BJP President Rajnath Singh today inaugurated the two-day National Executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party at Panaji in Goa this morning, which was overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of senior party leader L.K. Advani.

Media speculation was rife that the National Executive is all set to elevate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the BJP Central Election Campaigner for the 2014 general elections.

Party leaders of the Congress and the BJP have been engaged in a war of words over L.K Advani's absence.

85 year old Advani had cited ill health as the reason for not attending the BJP National Executive.

Reports say, other party leaders including Uma Bharti, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and Shatrughan Sinha are also not attending the BJP National Executive.

Dismissing differences in the party, BJP leader Shanawaz Hussain said, Advani is not attending the Party National Executive due to illness and there is no other meaning to it.

He said, the National Executive will streamline the BJP strategy for the 2014 general elections.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rashid Alvi said, those leaders unable to manage their party affairs are fighting for unseen power.