Book on LK Advani: Know why the BJP patriarch skipped meet where Narendra Modi was anointed PM candidate

BJP patriarch LK Advani on Thursday expressed his displeasure over the release of a book titled 'Advani ke sath 32 Saal', saying it was published against his wishes.

Here, we bring to you some of facts that we know about the book so far:

The book looks at Advani and Vishwambhar Srivastava’s 32-year-old association and has anecdotes relating to Advani’s political career to which Srivastava was a witness. Vishwambhar Srivastava was Advani’s assistant for more than three decades. 

The book mentions that when Advani was appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister in the Morarji Desai-led government in 1977, he was reportedly taken aback by the vast ring of armed guards that appeared around him as soon as he was sworn in.

The book recalls the fateful events of December 6, 1992, the day the Babri Masjid was demolished. 

“As Advaniji started speaking to the crowd, he noticed a few Kar Sevaks on the three domes of the Masjid, he announced that they were to come down after hoisting the Bhagwa Dhwaj. Some people suggested that those on the domes were Marathi speakers and could not understand his appeal. He then sent Pramod Mahajan to find out, who returned and told Advani ji that while he was appealing to those on the dome, many Kar Sevaks had already done irreparable harm to the foundation of the building. Advani ji’s face fell and he appeared distressed.”

The book recalls that Advani was against the idea of his son Jayant venturing into electoral politics and thus, refused to allow him to contest polls from Gandhinagar in Gujarat in 1989. 

In any event, Advani retained Gandhinagar for himself, a constituency he represents till date, whereas New Delhi was contested again, and won by film star (late) Rajesh Khanna, who fought on a Congress ticket.

The book also explores controversies for Advani -like his vehement opposition to his party's decision to elect the then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its presumptive Prime Minister.

In September 2013, Advani skipped a meeting of the BJP's top decision-makers called to formally nominate Modi, the then Gujarat Chief Minister. 

"I had told you that I will think whether I should share my thoughts with other Board members or not. Now, I have decided that it is better that I do not attend today's meeting," he wrote in a letter to the BJP's parliamentary board.

BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member Subramanian Swamy released the book today, while another BJP MP RK Sinha was invited to preside over the book release function.