Congress today took a dig at BJP over absence of key leaders at party's Goa conclave where a larger role for Narendra Modi is expected to be decided, saying "Namonitis is spreading" in the state.
The Gujarat Chief Minister is known as "Namo" among his supporters.
"Namonitis virus is spreading in Goa. Our advice to the Chief Minister is to take effective counter measures otherwise it will affect tourism," party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary told reporters.
The AICC spokesperson's comments came as several BJP leaders were reportedly skipping the Goa conclave and even 85-year-old Advani was not attending today's meeting of BJP office bearers there as he was "unwell".
"Due to Modi, senior leaders of the BJP are falling sick," Congress leader Rashid Alvi remarked. "BJP should think what will happen to the country because of him. My full sympathies to those who are falling sick due to Modi."
Party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed also took potshots at the BJP over the development, remarking "Modi group has chased away Advani group within the BJP".
While Advani will not be attending the office bearers meeting today, he is expected to be present at the party's National Executive being held in the next two days.
Modi's role in the next Lok Sabha election is expected to be the dominant theme of the BJP National Executive, amid a strong demand from some sections in the party for declaring him the campaign committee head.
Several top BJP leaders are likely to skip the national executive. Vice President Uma Bharti, General Secretary Varun Gandhi, Deputy Leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha are not likely to attend, party sources said.