The issue of corruption may not dominate the coming Winter Session of Parliament as the main Opposition BJP is defensive over it while the ruling Congress is not keen on discussing it in the two Houses.
On the other hand, regional parties in the UPA, NDA and outside, are never interested in discussing the issue as it may not give them political mileage.
The BJP wanted to put the government in the dock on corruption and inflation issues but controversy over Mr Nitin Gadkari’s company could blunt its attack on the government on “coalgate” and land deal with DLF.
“Nitin Gadkari will be a liability for the BJP but he will be an asset for us so long as he remains the BJP chief,” a Congress official said. BJP rebel B.S. Yeddyurappa has decided to quit the party in December. Mr Yeddyurappa, the former Karnataka chief minister had to step down on the allegations of corruption. He is playing the Lingayat card for his political survival. In this situation, the BJP will find it difficult to work on a common strategy with rest of the Opposition against the government, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday took at dig at Mr L.K. Advani for backing Mr Gadkari in the face of allegations of dubious funding of his companies, saying it reflected BJP’s “double standards” on “every issue” including corruption. The party also sought to draw parallel between the controversy surrounding Mr Gadkari and the cash on camera scandal involving former BJP chief Bangaru Laxman. “BJP has internalised double standards in its approach to each and every issue. When the BJP or its leaders are in the zone of questioning, the argument of political vend-etta is conveniently trotted out but when it involves a non-BJP issue of personality, they shoot from the hip without responsibility and restraint,” party spokesperson Manish Tewari said.