Advani is BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate
The move is aimed at telling the Gujarat electorate that if voted to power in the next Lok Sabha polls, a representative of the state will be in charge of Delhi.
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: The leadership tussle in the BJP has finally been settled in LK Advani's favour. The BJP parliamentary board on Monday formally declared that Mr Advani will lead the party in the next general election.
The timing of the announcement — a day before polling in Gujarat — is also aimed at telling the state’s electorate that if voted to power in the next Lok Sabha polls, a representative of the state will be in charge of Delhi.
Although naming Mr Advani's as Atal Bihari Vajpayee's successor was a formality after the former prime minister practically vanished from the political scene following indifferent health, an element of uncertainty was introduced by BJP president Rajnath Singh and his handlers.
An effort to declare Mr Advani as Mr Vajpayee's successor at the last meeting of the national executive was sabotaged by the BJP president. Mr Singh read out a letter, purportedly from Mr Vajpayee, which said that he would soon be back in their midst. This was projected by Mr Singh’s men as a clear indication that Mr Vajpayee would be around to lead the party in the next election.
The RSS, which was angry over this BJP president-sponsored intrigue, had stepped in to clear the air soon after the meeting of the national executive. The Sangh bosses had three rounds of discussions with the BJP leaders — two in Delhi and one in Dharwad — on the leadership issue. Former prime minister was expected to make the announcement, but could not attend the parliamentary board meeting because of ill health.
The decision is expected to bring more cohesion in the BJP as Mr Advani will now be calling shots in the party. With Rajnath Singh offering little space for his peers to function, the party has not been able to realise its potential as the main opposition within Parliament as well as outside.
Mr Advani, whose image suffered a serious setback after his Pakistan visit and reappraisal of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, has of late repaired his relations with the Sangh. Mr Advani, who carved out many electoral success for his party, will also get the complete backing of the second line leaders whom he virtually groomed.
Mr Advani, who share a good rapport with NDA allies, will now have the task of networking with regional parties for making the Opposition alliance a more credible formation. The BJP’s inability to function effectively as the core of the NDA in the past three years had resulted in regional parties looking at other political options.
The timing of the announcement — a day before polling in Gujarat — is also aimed at telling the state’s electorate that if voted to power in the next Lok Sabha polls, a representative of the state will be in charge of Delhi.
Although naming Mr Advani's as Atal Bihari Vajpayee's successor was a formality after the former prime minister practically vanished from the political scene following indifferent health, an element of uncertainty was introduced by BJP president Rajnath Singh and his handlers.
An effort to declare Mr Advani as Mr Vajpayee's successor at the last meeting of the national executive was sabotaged by the BJP president. Mr Singh read out a letter, purportedly from Mr Vajpayee, which said that he would soon be back in their midst. This was projected by Mr Singh’s men as a clear indication that Mr Vajpayee would be around to lead the party in the next election.
The RSS, which was angry over this BJP president-sponsored intrigue, had stepped in to clear the air soon after the meeting of the national executive. The Sangh bosses had three rounds of discussions with the BJP leaders — two in Delhi and one in Dharwad — on the leadership issue. Former prime minister was expected to make the announcement, but could not attend the parliamentary board meeting because of ill health.
The decision is expected to bring more cohesion in the BJP as Mr Advani will now be calling shots in the party. With Rajnath Singh offering little space for his peers to function, the party has not been able to realise its potential as the main opposition within Parliament as well as outside.
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Mr Advani, whose image suffered a serious setback after his Pakistan visit and reappraisal of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, has of late repaired his relations with the Sangh. Mr Advani, who carved out many electoral success for his party, will also get the complete backing of the second line leaders whom he virtually groomed.
Mr Advani, who share a good rapport with NDA allies, will now have the task of networking with regional parties for making the Opposition alliance a more credible formation. The BJP’s inability to function effectively as the core of the NDA in the past three years had resulted in regional parties looking at other political options.
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