Advani out of PM race, Modi may step in
Senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, who had earned the tag of “PM-in-waiting”, has finally opted out of the race for the top slot. It was the RSS which reportedly indicated that the Sangh was against any move to project Mr Advani as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections. Mr Advani’s decision to opt out of the race is likely to pave the way for the projection of
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi as the party’s PM candidate. However, with many claimants for the post, including Ms Sushma Swaraj, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari had said that the party “will not name any candidate for the top post”, insisting that the BJP has many deserving candidates.
Seeking the Sangh Parivar’s support for his yatra, Mr Advani assured RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat that his proposed yatra is for good governance and clean politics. Replying to media queries after his meeting with the RSS chief, Mr Advani said: “I feel that what I have got from these organisations, from my fellow workers and what the country has given me is much more than the Prime Minister’s post.” After he had announced his proposed yatra, speculation was rife that it was an attempt to position himself for the top slot.
Mr Advani also met Mr Gadkari later who is recuperating after a surgery. Mr Advani said the BJP chief will be in New Delhi on September 24 and will announce the details of his yatra. As of now, the yatra is likely to be launched on October 11, the birth anniversary of socialist leader J.P. Narayan, from Saran in Bihar. Mr Advani said his yatra will go to BJP-led NDA ruled states, insisting that these states were better governed than others despite having some shortcomings.
He said he was prompted to embark on a yatra after two of his party’s “whistleblower” MPs were arrested in the cash-for-vote scam, which he called the “dirtiest scandal”. In New Delhi, RSS leader Ram Madhav also said Sangh volunteers will “actively participate” in Mr Advani’s yatra.
“The Sangh has already asked its swayamsevaks (volunteers) to actively support all initiatives and actions against corruption. They had earlier extended support to Baba Ramdev and Anna Hazare in their campaigns against corruption. Similarly, swayamsevaks will actively participate in L.K. Advani’s campaign,” said Mr Madhav.
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