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BJP : Advani gets a breather |
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There were dramatic developments in the ongoing RSS-BJP family tussle last week, with everything indicating that BJP president L.K. Advani has won a temporary reprieve. But for this, he had to pay a heavy price when he went to the RSS office in New Delhi to plead that he should be given some more time so that he is able to quit gracefully. Otherwise, the RSS appeared all set to issue him marching orders. This was indicated by the open criticism by several members of the BJP politburo including former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana of the conduct of Advani as party president. They wanted him to quit or to at least give up one of the two posts he is holding - party president and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha - under the one man-one post principle. That the challenge to Advani was serious is indicated by the fact that about 30 of the BJP politburo members wrote similar letters to the party president demanding that the issues raised should be discussed at the national executive meeting which was to be held in Chennai last week and which has since been postponed to September.
The move to defer the party executive meeting came in the wake of the fragile rapproachment between the party and the RSS which allowed Advani a short breather, but asked him to select a time of his choosing to step down and make way for a new incumbent as party president. BJP Parliamentary party spokesman Vijay Kumar Malhotra said the executive meeting was postponed in view of the Monsoon session of parliament beginning today. But observers do not give much credence to this claim. The real reason appears to be that senior leaders felt that the meeting would serve no useful purpose at the present juncture when the standoff between Advani and the RSS was fresh in memory. They also felt that there is a risk of senior leaders raising embarrassing issues at the meeting as they had already demanded a full discussion on what they call ideological erosion.
Former Prime Minister Vajpayee is reported to have played a major role in buying time for Advani. Both Advani and Vajpayee are reported to have talked to RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan on telephone when they discussed the crisis in the party on July 16. The meeting came after a number of party men went public demanding Advani’s resignation. Reports say that Advani will now quit his post after the party’s plenary session in Mumbai in December which marks the 25th year anniversary celebrations of the party.
Meanwhile, former RSS spokesman and senior ideologue M.G. Vaidya has disclosed that the Surat conclave of RSS pracharaks (preachers) had arrived at a consensus in favour of Advani’s resignation. In the first clearly-worded admission from the RSS on the issue, Vaidya said in his Sunday column in the pro-RSS daily Tarun Bharat , that the RSS pracharaks candidly opined at Surat that Advani should resign in the wake of his statements in Pakistan.
Stressing that the Sangh values ideals more than individuals, he says, “When it comes to choosing between ideals and individuals, there should be no confusion in the minds of swayamsevaks. And that precisely was what the Delhi statement had underlined.”
Former Delhi Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana, in the meantime, has disclosed that he had demanded Advani’s resignation after consultations and approval of leaders of all the four Sangh Parivar organisations including the RSS. Speaking in New Delhi on Tuesday, July 19, Khurana said, “I sent the letter to Advaniji after consultations with leaders of all four organisations of the Sangh Parivar - RSS, BJP, VHP and ABVP. It was only after I received approval that I sent the letter.”
Specifically referring to RSS, he said two of its senior functionaries met him a few days ago. “I discussed the issue (of demanding resignation) with them. I got the clearance from RSS leadership,” Khurana maintained.
Who after Advani ?
The RSS is reportedly working on a suitable replacement for Advani, if and when, he resigns as BJP president. Reports say that the RSS is keen on having a non-controversial pro-Sangh hardliner as a replacement for Advani.
The RSS preference for an “acceptable” candidate virtually negates the chances of old-timers and known faces in the race for the post, sources said. Despite these parameters, a number of aspiring candidates are believed to have joined the race.
JDU wants Advani to continue as BJP president till Bihar polls
The Janata Dal (United) has conveyed it to the BJP leadership that it would like Advani to continue till the Bihar Assembly elections likely to be held by November this year. Party sources in New Delhi said that Bihar JDU leader Nitish Kumar is vigorously working on the BJP leadership to persuade the RSS to let Advani continue in his post till after the Bihar polls. He rang up former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to argue that Advani’s ouster at the RSS’ instance would help RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav to consolidate Muslim votes against the National Democratic Alliance.
In trying to help Advani hang on to his perch, Nitish Kumar NDA’s candidate for the Chief Ministership of Bihar, is driven by the consideration that Advani’s exit at the instance of the Sangh will help Lalu Prasad get the Muslims arrayed against the NDA. Cracks in the RJD’s Muslim vote helped NDA in the last election and Nitish Kumar is obviously keen on a replay.
Besides, he is also worried that Advani’s removal before the Bihar polls may give Lalu Prasad an opening to try to wean away the non-Yadav backwards from the NDA by telling them that the RSS might get the BJP leadership renege on its commitment to back Nitish Kumar for the Chief Ministership.
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