New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS): Indicating disapproval of the resolution by BJP's Bihar unit seeking Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi be declared the party's prime ministerial candidate, party chief Rajnath Singh Sunday told state units not to pass such motions, party sources said.

They said that Bharatiya Janata Party president touched the issue during his address at the party's election campaign committee meeting here Sunday and said there was no need for such resolutions. Modi was present at the meeting.

The sources said that Rajnath Singh told the gathering, which included state unit chiefs, that the leadership was seized of the question of prime ministerial candidate and "a call will be taken in the interest of the party".

"The party president conveyed that states should not force the issue and not pass such resolutions," a party leader told IANS.

BJP's Bihar unit had adopted a resolution urging the BJP central parliamentary board to make the announcement on Modi as prime ministerial candidate. Modi is the chief of campaign committee for BJP for the 2014 elections.

Party sources said that the leadership has apprehensions that such resolutions can create problems as it would amount to forcing a decision on an issue which is in domain of central leadership.

They said that there was even a remote possibility of state units differing in their recommendations of prime ministerial candidate which would present a picture of disunity in the party.

The BJP has said that a decision on prime ministerial candidate will be taken by the parliamentary board at an appropriate time.

Advani praises Modi at BJP meet

Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani Sunday praised Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi at the party's election committee meeting here, party sources said.

The praise came three days after he disapproved Modi's criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech on the Independence Day, saying that it was not the day to criticize each other.

In his concluding remarks at the meeting, Advani praised Modi for his emphasis on strengthening the party at the booth level and reaching out to each voter, party sources said.

"He (Advani) endorsed speech of Modi," a party leader said.

Advani had resigned his key party posts in June, a day after Modi's elevation as chief of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) campaign committee for the 2014 elections. However, he decided not to press his resignation after the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh intervened.

BJP sources also said Modi in his speech said that 160 representatives from minority community had been elected on a BJP ticket to local bodies in Gujarat and asked the party cadre to reach out to all sections, including Muslims.