M A I N   N E W S

Advani, Joshi dropped from BJP Parliamentary Board
Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service

Modi’s stamp is quite evident on the new Parliamentary Board. The new, younger age-limit for it has the backing of the party’s ideological mentor—the RSS. Apart from Shah, who will now be heading the 12-member panel as the party president, it has two new incumbents — Himachal Pradesh leader Jagat Prakash Nadda and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Nadda was one of the front runners for the post of the party president along with Shah. Sources say he has been compensated for being left out. Nadda and Chouhan have also been included in the CEC—the body which decides on candidates to be fielded in elections. Firebrand leader from Uttar Pradesh Vinay Katiyar has been dropped and former BJP Mahila Morcha president Saroj Pandey, who was an ex-officio member of this committee, replaced with Vijaya Rahatkar the new Mahila Morcha chief.

Though party leaders claim that the two senior leaders Advani and Joshi did not show any resentment on being removed from the panel, Joshi is believed to have approached RSS leaders against the move. “He was told by the RSS to comply with the party’s decision," sources say, adding that they have been assured that when the posts of the President and Vice-President of the country fall vacant, they would be the top contenders.

In the meantime, they would be part of the “Margdarshak Mandal”, whose role will be to guide the party. The move is in line with RSS thought, according to which leaders beyond certain age should make way for younger lot. Modi followed the cut-off rule in the government and so did Shah, who ensured an average age of 50 in his team, the party leaders contend.

Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said a “high-power group” with senior leaders such as Advani, Vajpayee, Joshi, Modi and Rajnath Singh was bound to be important.

Inclusion of Chouhan, who is believed to be in the Advani camp, came as a surprise. His inclusion means that the three-time MP CM is now first among the equals other BJP CMs being Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Vasundhra Raje (Rajasthan) Anandiben Patel (Gujarat) and Manohar Parikkar (Goa). The 12-member Parliamentary Board will be chaired by Amit Shah. Its other members are Narendra Modi, Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Ananth Kumar, Thawarchand Gehlot, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jagat Prakash Nadda and Ramlal.

Included in ‘Margdarshak Mandal’

Veterans Atal Behari Vajpayee, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi have been included in a new five-member committee called “Margdarshak Mandal”

To provide it more credibility, PM Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh have also been put on board the ‘mandal’

The ailing Vajpayee, Advani and Joshi have also been dropped from the party’s Central Election Committee

The younger age-limit for it has the backing of the party’s ideological mentor—the RSS

Nod for Nadda, Chouhan

Amit Shah will head the 12-member Parliamentary Board

It has two new incumbents — Himachal Pradesh leader JP Nadda and MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan

Nadda was one of the front-runners for the post of the party president along with Shah. Sources say he has been compensated for being left out