Friday, December 30 2005 11:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Former Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray, who quit the party following differences with cousin and Sena Executive President Uddhav Thackeray, met Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani here today (Dec 30, 2005).

Speaking to reporters after meeting the senior leaders on the last day of the silver jubilee convention of BJP, Raj said the two leaders were revered and hence he had visited them to seek their blessings.

He said it was a courtesy visit and not much should be read into it.

Replying to a question, Raj denied that the issue of any sort of alliance with BJP, after his break-up with Sena, figured during the meeting.

When asked, if he attached any significance to the brief visit of senior Sena leader Manohar Joshi at the last night's BJP rally to felicitate the top BJP leaders, Raj refused to comment and asked the media not to drag him into such issues.

Raj's visit assumes significance since except Joshi, no other top Sena leader has called on BJP top brass during the ongoing silver jubilee celebrations.