BJP chief Nitin Gadkari under pressure to quit?

NEW DELHI: Pressure seemed to be mounting on Nitin Gadkari from within the BJP even as the RSS leadership was struggling to come up with a face-saving solution for its protege.

The trouble facing Gadkari, who seemed set for a second term before the controversy over funding of the Purti Group erupted, became evident on Wednesday when BJP veteran L K Advani suggested that the party chief submit himself to higher standards than others.

“I am of the view that the BJP should be different and should not claim immunity on either scale or nature of the allegations,” Advani, who had quit the Lok Sabha after his name figured in the Jain hawala diaries, said.

Advani complimnted Gadkari for volunteering to face an inquiry, and also said the allegations against him had to do with “standards of his business” and not corruption.

But his exhortation on higher standards was being seen as significant in view of gathering concern in the BJP that the revelations could hobble the party’s aspiration to ride the anti-corruption wave sweeping the country.