Advani makes veiled attack on Gadkari

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Given a clear indication by the Sangh and the BJP to give up his ambition to lead the party during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, a fuming L.K. Advani on Thursday targeted his own outfit and said that people of the country were 'disappointed' with the outfit. Claiming that the 'mood in the party is not upbeat', Mr Advani called for an 'introspection'.

Mr Advani also boycotted the meeting held by the top leadership at the residence of party chief Nitin Gadkari on Thursday evening. The meeting was to discuss the impact of the bandh. Among the top leaders present at Mr Gadkari’s residence were Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitly, Ramlal, Arti Mehra and Dharmendra Pradhan.

Earlier, as Mr Gadkari was preparing to speak about the 'success' of Bharat bandh, Mr Advani ruined the gameplan by hitting out at the party for failing in its campaign against corruption in his blog “BJP a hub of hope”. Sangh has reportedly hinted that both Mr Advani and Ms Sushma Swaraj should “not” be leading the party in the 2014 general elections.

For the Sangh, the choice has to be between Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.

“If BJP manages a majority on its own, it should be Modi and if the party has to form a coalition government it should be Jaitley,” is Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s signal to the BJP leadership.

Also, seething for being ignored in Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand developments, Mr Advani lashed out, “The results in Uttar Pradesh (Assembly polls), the manner in which the party welcomed BSP Ministers who were removed by Mayawatiji on charges of corruption, the party’s handling of Jharkhand and Karnataka, all these events have undermined the party’s campaign against corruption.”

Mr Advani was referring to Mr Gadkari’s move to welcome former BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, an accused in NRHM scam.

As for Karnataka and Jharkhand while Mr Advani wanted the party to oust B.S. Yeddyurappa, he was also against the BJP’s participation in the Jharkhand government. Mr Advani was also miffed with Mr Gadkari for his attempt to nominate Anshuman Mishra for Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand.0