M A I N   N E W S

Rift in BJP deepens, now Modi comes under fire
Party mouthpiece rues leadership tussle in Gujarat, Karnataka & Rajasthan
Anita Katyal
Our Political Correspondent

BJp versus bjp An editorial in Kamal Sandesh hits out at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other regional satraps — former Rajasthan and Karnataka CMs, Vasundhra Raje and BS Yeddyurappa — for their increasing show of defiance The editorial conveys the RSS’ unhappiness over its growing marginalisation by the party’s regional leaders who have been asserting their independence and charting their own path On Thursday, party patriarch LK Advani used his blog to attack his bete noire BJP president Nitin Gadkari Modi meets Vajpayee, Advani Gujarat CM Narendra Modi on Friday called on former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee and later senior party leader LK Advani. Keen to be projected as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Modi is reaching out to senior party leaders as he does not want to be viewed as a polarising figure. Advani has been upset with Modi for endorsing a second term for BJP president Nitin Gadkari.

New Delhi, June 1
There was further evidence of disarray in the BJP today. A day after party patriarch LK Advani used his blog to attack his bete noire BJP president Nitin Gadkari, an editorial in the party mouthpiece Kamal Sandesh hit out at Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other regional satraps such as former Rajasthan and Karnataka chief ministers, Vasundhra Raje and BS Yeddyurappa, for their increasing show of defiance.

Though the editorial has not named anybody, it has frowned upon the recent developments in Karnataka, Gujarat and Rajasthan which, it described as unpleasant and in contravention to the very nature of the BJP, adding that these “have deeply hurt the sentiments” of the common man and party workers.

While not taking kindly to the open factional feuds in these states, the BJP mouthpiece has been equally harsh over the growing tendency of individual leaders of placing themselves above the party organisation. In a message clearly aimed at Modi, who arm-twisted the party into agreeing to his demand for the removal of his arch-rival Sanjay Joshi at its recently concluded National Executive meeting, the editorial underlined that the party is supreme.

“The party functions on the basis of a system. The system is maintained by those who function in the party. The party doesn’t function on the basis of any individual’s contribution alone but on the basis of everyone’s contribution. ‘Only my will should be honoured, and none other should command if not me’ - neither any organisation nor any society or any family can function on the basis of such dictums.” the editorial stated.

The Kamal Sandesh is edited by Rajya Sabha member and Madhya Pradesh BJP chief Prabhat Jha, who has come from the RSS ranks and is known to be close to the Sangh. The editorial is said to convey the RSS unhappiness over its growing marginalisation by the party’s regional satraps who have been asserting their independence and charting their own path.

In an apparent reminder to Modi, Vasundhra Raje and Yeddyurappa, the editorial repeatedly stated that leaders should not forget that it is the organisation which has put them in the top position they are occupying today.

“Today, in a democracy the role of dharmacharya is now played by the organisation. As one ascends the ladder, his understandings should also elevate. But the irony is that it is always seen that on reaching the top, even after knowing that a day will come when he has to come down, he tries to belittle those below him,” the editorial added.

The write-up had words of high praise for senior leaders Advani, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Murli Manohar Joshi who, it said, had always adhered by party discipline and guidelines. “They kept themselves within the fold of the BJP even though their stature is very high but they never allowed their height to exceed that of the party,” the editorial said.