Naidu tries to broker peace in BJP

Attempting to calm the infighting in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and state in-charge of the party, Venkaiah Naidu, held a meeting with the officer bearers of the Mumbai unit on Friday, to broker peace between the warring Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde factions.

Attempting to calm the infighting in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader and state in-charge of the party, Venkaiah Naidu, held a meeting with the officer bearers of the Mumbai unit on Friday, to broker peace between the warring Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde factions.

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BJP president Gadkari and senior leader Munde have been considered rivals for years. The simmering tension between the two camps boiled over when the photograph of Mumbai city president Raj Purohit was left out from a booklet on BJP’s work in the civic body, published by corporator Ashish Shelar.

While Purohit is considered close to Munde, Shelar is considered close to Gadkari and sources had said that the move was being perceived as an attempt to sideline Munde.

Speaking about the hostilities, Naidu said: “There is a need for all leaders on the city to work together and ensure that the BJP-Sena combine comes back to power in the city.”

Naidu also warned party leaders not to expect concessions during ticket distribution.

“The party is firm on not giving tickets to family members or personal assistants of leaders,” said Naidu. However, he claimed that exceptions could be made.

Addressing the war on Munde’s home turf and the action against Munde’s nephew Dhananjay, who is facing charges of indiscipline, Naidu said that a disciplinary committee report had been finalised and would be sent to the central parliamentary board, which would take necessary action.