Mumbai, June 21
Gopinath Munde is heading for a major showdown with the BJP leadership following a stormy meeting between his supporters and office-bearers of the party. Munde, who did not show up for the meeting of the party MPs and MLAs held here today, later told reporters that he was not invited.

“I am BJP’s MP and has been its MLA during my 35-year-long career, but I was not invited for the meeting,” Munde told reporters at his residence in South Central Mumbai. Sounding bitter, he said this was the party leaders’ way of rewarding him for his service to the BJP.

He indicated that he was exploring various options but would reveal his future plans only after negotiations with the party leadership were over. He said he would also have to discuss various issues with his supporters before taking a decision.

Munde also denied that he had asked for control of the party’s Maharashtra unit.

Meanwhile, the meeting of BJP MPs, MLAs and senior office-bearers held here was a stormy affair. Several elected representatives loyal to Munde criticised party president Nitin Gadkari. Party sources said those who attended the meeting included Munde’s daughter Pankaja Palve and nephew Dhananjay. Maharashtra BJP chief Sudhir Mungantiwar told the gathering that people should not discuss their problems in public.

BJP leaders say Munde was keen on returning to state politics and had suggested that he be allowed to swap his Lok Sabha seat with his daughter Pankaja, an MLA, and thus take over as the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. However, senior BJP leaders backed by party chief Gadkari shot down the plea.

Meanwhile, there is intense speculation here that senior Congress leaders in New Delhi and Munde have worked out a deal under which the BJP leader would be accommodated in the Union Cabinet after he joined the Congress. Munde was also said to be negotiating deals for his supporters in Maharashtra, sources said.

However, Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan refused to confirm or deny talks with Munde. “Wait and watch,” Chavan told reporters. The CM is reported to have been summoned to the Capital for discussions with Congress leaders on the issue.