Bharatiya Janata Party made it clear on Thursday that Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi [Images] would not be replaced.

Party president Lal Kishenchand Advani assured dissidents that their grievances would be addressed both at the party and the state government levels.

Why Narendra Modi seems invincible

Advani had invited senior party leaders, including former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel, Kanshi Ram Rana, Suresh Mehta, Om Prakash Mathur, state party president Rajendra Singh Rana, Sanjay Joshi and Venkaiah Naidu, to discuss the Gujarat crisis on Thursday.

"The party has decided that there will be no change in the Gujarat leadership. In fact, the issue of change in the leadership never came up," Venkaiah Naidu told newsmen in New Delhi on Thursday afternoon.

The talented Mr Modi

The meeting that started around 9am continued for over three hours.

Keshubhai Patel and Kanshi Ram Rana refused to comment on whether they were happy with the decision.

"What is to be said would be explained at the party briefing in party headquarters in the afternoon," a subdued Keshubhai said.

According to Venkaiah Naidu, Narendra Modi had explained his position to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani during his visit to New Delhi on Tuesday.

Advani also directed Gujarat's BJP legislators not to air their grievances in the media.

The dissident group, which has been demanding the ouster of Modi, claims to have the support of some 50 legislators.

Read about: The Modi visa imbroglio