The two-day BJP national executive started in Mumbai on Thursday with the announcement of the resignation of Mr Sanjay Joshi from the national executive, ending the suspense over Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the meeting. The party immediately accepted Mr Joshi’s resignation from the national executive and also confirmed Mr Modi’s participation.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari said Mr Joshi tendered his resignation to avoid conflict in the party; his resignation is seen as a victory for the Gujarat CM and a setback to Mr Gadkari who had brought him into the national executive. However, Mr Gadkari denied the party had asked Mr Joshi to resign to pacify Mr Modi, who had reportedly refused to attend the national executive. “Mr Joshi quit on his own so that there are no differences within the party because of him,” he said.
Mr Gadkari also confirmed that he had spoken to Mr Modi, who said he would come to the national executive meeting. Mr Modi arrived in Mumbai at about 4 pm.
The BJP is facing internal bickering in some state units, including Gujarat, Karnataka and Rajasthan. In Karnataka, former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa is at war with incumbent Sadanand Gowda, earlier his confidant. In Rajasthan, also a BJP stronghold, another former CM, Ms Vasundhara Raje, is pitted against Gulabchand Kataria, a party leader. Mr Gadkari touched on the issue of infighting among party leaders when he spoke about the “paramount importance of unity and discipline” in his inaugural speech.