Rumble against Gadkari grows in saffron camp

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With pressure mounting on the BJP and its chief Nitin Gadkari, after media reports about dubious funding of his trust, talk has begun in the saffron party about who will succeed 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 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. 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. His first term ends in December. Crucial Assembly polls are lined up next year and a general election is due in 2014.

Senior party leader L.K. Advani, who lauded Mr Gadkari for offering to face a probe, however emphasised that the BJP should be different and not claim immunity on either the scale or the nature of the allegations. He also 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 into the allegation 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 and warned against rising corruption. Incidentally, 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 allegations against Mr Gadkari “are in the media only”. Both the Leaders of the Opposition - Ms Sushma Swaraj and Mr Arun Jaitley - backed the BJP chief.