Nov. 9: The BJP central leadership is apparently upset with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the Sangh’s attempt to take complete control of the organisation and thrust a leader of its choice as the new BJP chief. Sources disclosed that some of the top leaders of the organisation were holding parleys to take on the RSS and get the organisation out of its grip.
A statement issued by RSS leader Ram Madhav on Monday denying his earlier statement that Mr L.K. Advani might step down from the Leader of the Opposition post once formalities of electing the new BJP chief are completed, is also seen as the outcome of resentment among the BJP regarding RSS "interference" in its functioning.
Mr Bhagwat, in an interview to a private news channel, had said that the new BJP chief will neither be from Delhi nor from among the senior leaders, Mr Arun Jaitley, Ms Sushma Swaraj, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu or Mr Ananth Kumar. He had also said that the BJP had initiated the process of choosing the new party chief. Present BJP chief Rajnath Singh completes his term in December.
Sources in the BJP said that the RSS chief’s statement has angered the party central leadership which feels that the Sangh is blatantly interfering in the working of the BJP, which is only tarnishing the party’s image. Party sources said the central leadership is upset that the RSS chief spoke through the media on the issue when even the central leadership is steering clear from speculations on the new party chief’s name.
A senior party leader said a section within the organisation feels that its "high time" that the BJP should draw a line on the issue and defy the RSS dictat.
AGE CORRESPONDENT
New Delhi