New Delhi, March 21
Stung by open criticism of party leaders and apparent disapproval of the RSS, the BJP has backtracked and abandoned London-based lawyer Anshuman Mishra, who filed his nomination for the lone Rajya Sabha seat from Jharkhand with the tacit approval of party president Nitin Gadkari.

Having lost BJP support, six MLAs of which had signed his papers earlier, Mishra also developed cold feet and withdrew his nomination. Initially, he had tried to put up a brave face and even attacked former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, who had accused Gadkari of selling party ticket, and LK Advani for sticking to power despite his advancing age and Jinnah taint.

The BJP had tried to distance itself from the action, with general secretary Ananth Kumar directing Jharkhand MLAs not to vote for Independent candidate Anshuman Mishra.

“In view of the large-scale horse trading and malpractices going on in the Rajya Sabha elections in Jharkhand, the BJP has further decided that its Jharkhand MLAs will abstain from voting in the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled on March 30.” Shortly after that, Mishra announced withdrawal of his nomination.

This is being seen as a triumph of Gadkari baiters who have been targeting him ever since he admitted in the party fold former BSP Family Welfare Minister in the Mayawati government Babu Singh Kushwaha during the UP elections, diluting the party’s anti-corruption plank and demonstrated that he stood completely isolated both in the BJP and from the sangh.