In what could give more heartburn to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the BJP top brass is contemplating rehabilitating his bete noire and party’s former general secretary (organisation) Sanjay Joshi at the national level. Both the RSS and BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, it is learnt, are in favour of Mr Joshi being given a key post at the central level.
Unhappy over Mr Joshi being given an important position in the BJP election management team for Uttar Pradesh polls, Mr Modi has not campaigned in the politically crucial state so far despite RSS’ insistence. Sources disclosed that RSS and Mr Gadkari are miffed with Mr Modi for refusing to campaign for the party despite repeated requests by the election management committee. An RSS man, Mr Joshi had to quit the party over a CD controversy. Though Mr Joshi has been working for the BJP, he is yet to be formally reinducted into the party.
Sources said both the RSS and Mr Gadkari are appreciative of Mr Joshi’s organisational skills and his popularity among the sangh parivar cadre. Mr Joshi, it is learnt, played an important role in candidate selection for the party and in deciding campaigning schedules of senior leaders. Both the BJP and RSS consulted him while preparing their internal assessment of the UP polls, sources said.
Speculation is rife in the party that Mr Joshi might get back his earlier post while the current general secretary (organisation) Ramlal, an RSS point man, will be accommodated in the organisation at some other post.
It could be recalled that the Gujarat chief minister had skipped the last national executive meeting of the party where Mr Gadkari had invited Mr Joshi.