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THIS must have been immediately after the BJP Mumbai national executive where Vajpayee almost got Modi removed before buckling to combined might of the Advani camp in the party. It was 2002 Gujarat Assembly elections end of the year. Relations between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi were frosty. Vajpayee attended just two rallies – at Vadodara and Jamnagar – in support of Modi. As Vajpayee began speaking at Vadodara, little wobbly, Modi got up from his chair to leave. As the PM looked on, Modi blabbered something like he would reach Jamnagar ahead of him for a welcome. This was clearest sign of frostiness in the relationship. Modi did not even wish to travel with the PM in the same aircraft. More importantly, he was confident he would get away with it. Vajpayee began by saying that he was there to advocate for Modi. Devil’s Advocate was an expected headline, quipped one Delhi journo. It came as – PM means Praise Modi. Modi of course cared little.