Mr Bhagwat, why not take over BJP?

NEW DELHI: With RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat repeatedly demonstrating that he controls affairs of BJP by making his interventions public, the leadership crisis in BJP will only intensify. Mr Bhagwat and his men, through statements in the media, had made it known that the Sangh establishment would choose the next BJP president. For BJP, which preened about inner party democracy, the Sangh assertions can only be calamitous.

Although the Sangh always had a say in the functioning of BJP, it was never so direct and overt. Atal Behari Vajpayee was successful in keeping RSS at bay. During the NDA regime, Mr Vajpayee did not allow a free run of Sangh leaders.

Mr Bhagwat, who has been working as chief handler of BJP, has also made known his choice for the next BJP chief ��� Nitin Gadkari ��� a mofussil politician in the mould as president Rajnath Singh. Mr Gadkari, currently presiding over Maharashtra BJP, has never contested even an assembly election and has little clout outside Nagpur.

A self-styled spokesman of RSS on Saturday set the timeframe for the exit of LK Advani, who celebrated his 83rd birthday on Sunday. He had told media that Mr Advani will make way for a new leader after formalities for electing a new president are completed.

RSS interference is certain to alienate sections that had moved closer to BJP for reasons not so ideological. The party���s middle-class constituency has little appetite for the political plot of the Sangh that is far removed from contemporary India and its aspirations. The Sangh takeover of BJP will further dent its credibility in Parliament. As it is, BJP has ceased to function as an effective opposition.