New Delhi, Jun 8 (IANS): The Congress Friday took a dig at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, whose presence at the BJP national executive in Goa possibly contributed to the absence of senior party leaders, saying he was like a "virus".

"It seems a strange virus called Namonitis has affected their senior leaders," Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told reporters when asked for the party's response on the absence of senior BJP leaders, including BJP veteran L.K. Advani, from its three-day conclave in Goa.

Reports of a rift in the BJP camp were fuelled after a string of party leaders like Varun Gandhi, Jaswant Singh and Uma Bharati expressed their inability to attend the meet, some citing ill-health.

The absence of the leaders was made up by Modi, whose arrival in Goa resulted in a section of the BJP leadership playing cheerleaders for him, even as party spokespersons tried to play down reports of a rift between the leadership over who should lead the party into the 2014 general elections.

There is speculation that Modi may be made in charge of the BJP's 2014 poll campaign.

"We are not concerned about that. It is their internal issue. It is premature for us to say anything," said Chowdhury.