'He said 'I don't want the party to face difficulties because of me'.

'As if on cue, people from different parts of the hall started saying -- absolutely no, absolutely no, said 'ke koi galti nahi hai' (Modi has done no wrong),' Shourie went on.

'I was sitting at the deck, Jaswant Singh was near, Yashwant Sinha was on the stage. Atalji, Advaniji were on the stage.

'I saw Atalji's bewilderment because he thought it was a done deal. That it was almost like an orchestrated coup against him.

'I got up and said what Narendra Modi has just said is in pursuance with a decision that these senior leaders have taken in the flight, I was myself present.

'But immediately, the chorus started and eventually Atalji or the president said that 'abhi toh public meeting ka samay ho gaya hai, kal decide karenge (we will decide tomorrow, it's time for the public meeting)'...

'The crowd said 'no, no, no, nahin hoga.' So there is absolutely no doubt and I can give you more details that Atalji was completely thwarted.'