Order finally in BJP?

LK Advani’s exit as the Leader of the Opposition on Friday marks an end to a stormy period in the BJP that saw a bitter blame-game after his projection as the prime ministerial candidate failed to win the Lok Sabha polls, reports Shekhar Iyer.

L.K. Advani’s exit as the Leader of the Opposition on Friday marks an end to a stormy period in the BJP that saw a bitter blame-game after his projection as the prime ministerial candidate failed to win the Lok Sabha polls.

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Advani agreed to step aside after months of negotiations with the party’s ideological fount. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was pushing for a greater say in the party to end the infighting.

The deal with the RSS saw Advani get his way — Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley as the leaders for the parliamentary wing. But, he had to accept Nitin Gadkari, Sangh’s choice, as successor to party chief Rajnath Singh.

Advani would have liked Jaitley or Venkaiah Naidu to take over. But his detractors, including Singh and Murli Manohar Joshi, were against any of Advani’s supporters, disparagingly referred to as “the Delhi Four”, taking over the party.

Finally, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat agreed to let Advani decide on House leaders. But Bhagwat wanted him to oversee the transition under Gadkari.

With the Sangh backing him, Gadkari is unlikely to face an open rebellion immediately. But once he chooses his team, his troubles may begin, say insiders.

Gadkari has an amiable way of handling matters and it will help him, said a party leader. Unlike Singh, Gadkari doesn’t have an immediate ambition to be fulfilled.

At 52, he is not in a hurry and can wait. If he succeeds, the RSS will take care of his future.

His biggest challenge will be the next round of assembly polls in October, starting with Bihar.

“But Bihar will not be just his problem. The BJP will have to work hard for its survival. Advani’s supporters will not sabotage him,” said an RSS functionary.

“We might have had reservation on the way he was chosen… but can’t have complaints against him. He is an honest man who will take everyone along. Nothing can be worse than what we went through under the outgoing dispensation,” said an Advani loyalist.