Modi's rival offers to quit BJP national executive

Mumbai, May 24 (IANS) Sanjay Joshi, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's bete noire, has offered to resign from the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) national executive, said sources Thursday.

Party sources said Joshi had offered to resign after Modi had reportedly said he would not attend the two-day meeting beginning Thursday due to Joshi's inclusion in the national executive.

Modi had kept away from the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections as Joshi was given a key post in managing the campaigning for the party.

Joshi earlier had to resign from the post of party general secretary in 2005 after a clip of him showing in a compromising position with a woman was circulated.

Party president Nitin Gadkari later reinstated Joshi in the party, a move which caused a rift between Gadkari and Modi.

Speculations are rife if Modi would attend the Mumbai meet after Joshi's resignation.

The official stand of the party on the resignation has, however, not been made clear, even as the party president asked some senior leaders to consider his offer Thursday morning.

Modi was scheduled to be in Udaipur, Rajasthan, Thursday to attend a function.

When called by IANS to confirm his resignation, Joshi did not answer his phone.