Will L K Advani quit the BJP now? Yes, say party sources, either on November 8 or December 22
Will L K Advani quit the BJP now? Yes, say party sources, either on November 8 or December 22
It's been double disaster for the Bharatiya Janata Party in the just concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana. As the party goes into a huddle to discuss and debate the loss, the question everybody is asking is this the end for Lal Krishna Advani.
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Senior BJP leaders say yes, but none were willing to come on record. Advani, they say will quit as the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha on either of two dates November 8, when he turns 82 or on December 22 when the winter session of the Parliament ends. The birthday exit, say BJP sources, is more likely and added that Advani took the decision a couple of months ago after his meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and "rumours have been doing the rounds ever since and this time it's for real," said a senior party official based in Mumbai. Advani, however, will continue to play a big role in the party from
the sidelines and will have a say in deciding the next party president.
MiD DAY first
Amitabh Sinha, head of BJP's national think-tank said, "Advaniji is a very sensitive man and he wants to quit. But those who truly care for the party's well-being are asking him to not leave in a hurry, especially at a time when the party has to go through the technicality of changing its president and really needs his guidance."
Sinha hoped they would persuade Advani to stay. He said the Congress would love to see the centre of the party weakened, and hence "apart from its own publicity budget, it has a separate budget for negative campaigning in the media against rivals and to demolish opponent's leaderships". He added if a small section within the BJP tried to bring immediate change of leadership, they would only strengthen Congress' hands.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar, however refused to confirm the rumours, "The party has not yet had a discussion of this sort. We don't know what this is all about."
'Baseless'
Another close Advani aide also rejected the speculation as "baseless".u00a0 "He is not going to talk to anybody today and his exit from public life on his birthday is merely speculation," he told MiD DAY over the phone.
Another top leader, requesting anonymity, said, "Advani may announce his future plans on his birthday. If he wants to step down he will announce it on that day and the ceremonial exit will follow."
BJP sources said though Sushma Swaraj is the frontrunner to succeed Advani in the Lok Sabha some things may go against her. "She is not considered a strict administrator and also the party lost the 1988 election fought under her leadership for the Delhi assembly."
Party vice-president and spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, "The result of Maharashtra elections are below our expectations. We will definitely analyse the reasons behind the defeat." He, however, refused to comment over Advani quitting on his birthday.
1942
Joined the RSS as a Swayamsevak
46
seats BJP won in Maha assembly
Will BJP, sena split?
The fact that the BJP has fared better than the Shiv Sena by winning 46 out of 119 seats, while the latter has won only 44 out of the 169 seats, has suggested a split in the alliance, according to politicos.
Kaptan Singh Solanki, BJP's election in charge of the Maharashtra Assembly elections, said, "Alliance is not a permanent feature. Our base has grown and we do need to think about individuality, as any alliance is a compromise."
Madhav Bhandari, state BJP spokesperson, said that the leaders would discuss the issue in detail in the next meeting. A BJP state leader, when asked whether the party would ask for more seats next time, said, "Why would we ask for more seats? We will contest all the 288 seats."
According to BJP general secretary Vinay Katiyar, the Congress-NCP alliance could be easily defeated if the MNS and Sena came together.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar said, "No such issue has been raised at the central level." The Sena spokesperson Neelam Ghore remained unavailable for comment.
Did you know?
In the 2004 assembly elections, the BJP won 54 of 111 seats they contested, while the Sena won 62 of 163.
Inputs by Varun Singh
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