Advani works hard, regains party saddle
As the nation slips into poll mode, the BJP has started gearing itself for the ensuing electoral battle. While the exact shape of the party’s power-wresting project will be finalised only at its national executive meeting, scheduled to be held in ...
By TNN |
NEW DELHI: As the nation slips into poll mode, the BJP has started gearing itself for the ensuing electoral battle. While the exact shape of the party’s power-wresting project will be finalised only at its national executive meeting, scheduled to be held in Bhopal from September 21, it is getting increasingly clear that, in the wake of the RSS’ decision to withdraw itself from the day-to-day affairs of the party, L K Advani has taken charge.
A direct beneficiary of the RSS’ course-correction is likely to be Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who will now be free to deal with the dissident activities within his party in his own way. While the party has cracked the whip on seven MLAs for launching an oust-Modi campaign and hobnobbing with the Congress, more suspensions may be in the offing.
At the national level, the BJP’s onslaught against the Manmohan Singh government on issues such as the nuclear deal, the implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations and, finally, the Ram Setu affidavit bore Mr Advani’s stamp.
When not leading the party’s tirade in Parliament and outside, he was busy addressing the BJP’s alliance concerns, re-building bridges with old associates such as the Shiv Sena and the AIADMK. An unshackled and unfettered Mr Advani found himself thrust with the task of steering the party through choppy waters. And he was clearly relishing his job.
Mr Advani found himself pushed back into the political centre stage after a series of disastrous experiments inflicted upon the party, primarily the RSS. The decision to appoint Mr Rajnath Singh as the BJP president turned out to be a complete no-show as he not only failed to reinvigorate the cadre, but also enmeshed himself in petty intra-party intrigues.
It was, however, the RSS’ decision to involve itself directly in the day-to-day management of the BJP’s affairs which proved to be a bigger disaster. As more and more leaders belonging to the Sangh Parivar infiltrated the ranks of the BJP down the line, it led to the creation of parallel power centres at various levels, exposing those hailing from the RSS stable to the charge of enjoying unbridled powers without any accountability. As the BJP slipped in the credibility-quotient, the blame for its plight was put at the doorsteps of the RSS, which, for the first time, stood accused of deviating from its core project of ‘unifying Hindu forces’. With the RSS attempting a course-correction now, the field has been left open for Mr Advani to reassert his authority.
Even though, notionally, the job of commandeering the party has been entrusted to a collegium comprising, besides Mr Singh and Mr Advani, former prime minister A B Vajpayee, it is the former deputy prime minister who appears to have taken charge.
Mr Vajpayee, according to BJP sources, has been bogged down because of ill-health, and is simply not in a position to get down to the nitty-gritty of party affairs. Mr Singh neither has the moral authority nor the vision to lead the party’s campaign in the run-up to what may turn out to be a crucial electoral battle.
After an initial phase of hesitation, the RSS too has veered round to the view that Mr Advani would be better-placed to steer the party’s campaign, even though no formal announcement to this effect is likely to be made.
A direct beneficiary of the RSS’ course-correction is likely to be Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who will now be free to deal with the dissident activities within his party in his own way. While the party has cracked the whip on seven MLAs for launching an oust-Modi campaign and hobnobbing with the Congress, more suspensions may be in the offing.
At the national level, the BJP’s onslaught against the Manmohan Singh government on issues such as the nuclear deal, the implementation of the Sachar Committee recommendations and, finally, the Ram Setu affidavit bore Mr Advani’s stamp.
When not leading the party’s tirade in Parliament and outside, he was busy addressing the BJP’s alliance concerns, re-building bridges with old associates such as the Shiv Sena and the AIADMK. An unshackled and unfettered Mr Advani found himself thrust with the task of steering the party through choppy waters. And he was clearly relishing his job.
Mr Advani found himself pushed back into the political centre stage after a series of disastrous experiments inflicted upon the party, primarily the RSS. The decision to appoint Mr Rajnath Singh as the BJP president turned out to be a complete no-show as he not only failed to reinvigorate the cadre, but also enmeshed himself in petty intra-party intrigues.
It was, however, the RSS’ decision to involve itself directly in the day-to-day management of the BJP’s affairs which proved to be a bigger disaster. As more and more leaders belonging to the Sangh Parivar infiltrated the ranks of the BJP down the line, it led to the creation of parallel power centres at various levels, exposing those hailing from the RSS stable to the charge of enjoying unbridled powers without any accountability. As the BJP slipped in the credibility-quotient, the blame for its plight was put at the doorsteps of the RSS, which, for the first time, stood accused of deviating from its core project of ‘unifying Hindu forces’. With the RSS attempting a course-correction now, the field has been left open for Mr Advani to reassert his authority.
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Even though, notionally, the job of commandeering the party has been entrusted to a collegium comprising, besides Mr Singh and Mr Advani, former prime minister A B Vajpayee, it is the former deputy prime minister who appears to have taken charge.
Mr Vajpayee, according to BJP sources, has been bogged down because of ill-health, and is simply not in a position to get down to the nitty-gritty of party affairs. Mr Singh neither has the moral authority nor the vision to lead the party’s campaign in the run-up to what may turn out to be a crucial electoral battle.
After an initial phase of hesitation, the RSS too has veered round to the view that Mr Advani would be better-placed to steer the party’s campaign, even though no formal announcement to this effect is likely to be made.
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