With pressure mounting on the BJP and its chief, Mr Nitin Gadkari, after media reports about dubious funding of his trust, talk has begun in the saffron party about who will succeed Mr Gadkari in case he has to step down and is not allowed a second term as party president.
Even the RSS, it is learnt, has asked Mr Gadkari to come clean on the allegations against him by the month end. Saffron party circles are abuzz with speculation on whether it will be a “Delhi leader” or an RSS nominee who will succeed Mr Gadkari. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Ram Jethmalani had publicly stated that Mr Gadkari should resign in the wake of allegations against him and not seek a second term. Mr Gadkari’s first term ends in December this year.
Following RSS directions, the BJP had amended its constitution to give Mr Gadkari a second term. But now questions are being raised within the Sangh Parivar, including the BJP, on whether it would be politically prudent to allow Mr Gadkari to run the saffron party for a second consecutive term. Crucial Assembly polls are lined up next year and a General Election due in 2014. A section within the BJP top brass was unhappy with Mr Gadkari getting a second term.
Senior party leader L.K. Advani, who lauded Mr Gadkari for offering to face a probe, however emphasised that the BJP should not claim immunity on either the scale or the nature of the allegations. He accused the UPA of trying to neutralise the “unprecedented” corruption charges against it by targeting Mr Gadkari. Mr Advani hoped there would be an impartial probe regarding the source of funds for Mr Gadkari’s companies.
Though RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat refused to comment beyond saying it was an internal BJP matter, he called for “perfect honesty” in public life. Mr Gadkari was present at the Vijay Dashami function in Nagpur when the RSS chief was making these statements. Mr Gadkari, however, refused to comment.
RSS media in-charge Manmohan Vaidya said the allegations “are in the media only”. Both the Leaders of the Opposition — Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Arun Jaitley — backed the BJP chief. “It is unjust and unfair to accept these allegations as true without a probe. We the members of the BJP trust our president and stand firmly behind him,” Ms Swaraj posted on a micro-blogging site.