Modi has the last laugh
25 May 2012 1:23 AM GMT
The uncertainty over the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi's presence in the two day national executive meet of the Bharaitya Janata Party (BJP) in Mumbai finally ended on Thursday, with Modi reaching Mumbai in the afternoon. His presence, however, came with a cost for the party.
Modi's arch rival Sanjay Joshi resigned from the national executive on Wednesday night to make it smooth for the Gujarat chief minister to attend the meet. It is believed that Modi agreed to attend the meet only after Joshi's exit was ensured by the party.
'Joshi has in a letter to me has said that he is resigning in the interest of the party, so that there are no differences within it over his presence,' said the party president Nitin Gadkari. He added that Joshi, who is a special invitee to the national executive, resigned to end any controversy and to work in the interest of the organisation. There has been trouble within the party ever since Joshi was brought in the national executive and later given the charge of managing the Uttar Pradesh assembly election.
Modi expressed his displeasure at Joshi's growing importance in the party by not campaigning in the Uttar Pradesh election and also skipping the last national executive meet in September last year. With elections due in Gujarat this year and the party trying to gear up for the 2014 General Election, Joshi's resignation is seen as a signal of truce from the party president, as it was Gadkari who had inducted Joshi in the party after a gap of six years.
Gadkari and Modi have not been on good terms in recent times. The party president had mentioned in an interview that he had very little interaction with Modi.
After Joshi's resignation, Gadkari said that now he and Modi would work together to strengthen the organisation in the changed political scenario.
Mumbai seems to be an uncomfortable place for Joshi, as it was here in 2005 that a CD allegedly showing him in a compromising position surfaced during the BJP's silver jubilee celebration. Later, Joshi was forced to resign from the post of general secretary in the party.
Modi has always shown resistance over Joshi, as he is seen as a competitor from the same state.
YEDDYURAPPA MAY FOLLOW SUIT
After settling differences with the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the BJP leaders may now try to resolve issues with the former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is expected to reach Mumbai on Thursday. The party sources said that there are 'signs' that the Karnataka leader may go to Mumbai to attend the party executive meet. Yeddyurappa has been upset with the party leadership after he was removed from the chief minister's post. He has been at the loggerheads with his hand-picked successor Sadanand Gowda, who is already at the meet.
Modi's arch rival Sanjay Joshi resigned from the national executive on Wednesday night to make it smooth for the Gujarat chief minister to attend the meet. It is believed that Modi agreed to attend the meet only after Joshi's exit was ensured by the party.
'Joshi has in a letter to me has said that he is resigning in the interest of the party, so that there are no differences within it over his presence,' said the party president Nitin Gadkari. He added that Joshi, who is a special invitee to the national executive, resigned to end any controversy and to work in the interest of the organisation. There has been trouble within the party ever since Joshi was brought in the national executive and later given the charge of managing the Uttar Pradesh assembly election.
Modi expressed his displeasure at Joshi's growing importance in the party by not campaigning in the Uttar Pradesh election and also skipping the last national executive meet in September last year. With elections due in Gujarat this year and the party trying to gear up for the 2014 General Election, Joshi's resignation is seen as a signal of truce from the party president, as it was Gadkari who had inducted Joshi in the party after a gap of six years.
Gadkari and Modi have not been on good terms in recent times. The party president had mentioned in an interview that he had very little interaction with Modi.
After Joshi's resignation, Gadkari said that now he and Modi would work together to strengthen the organisation in the changed political scenario.
Mumbai seems to be an uncomfortable place for Joshi, as it was here in 2005 that a CD allegedly showing him in a compromising position surfaced during the BJP's silver jubilee celebration. Later, Joshi was forced to resign from the post of general secretary in the party.
Modi has always shown resistance over Joshi, as he is seen as a competitor from the same state.
YEDDYURAPPA MAY FOLLOW SUIT
After settling differences with the Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the BJP leaders may now try to resolve issues with the former Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa, who is expected to reach Mumbai on Thursday. The party sources said that there are 'signs' that the Karnataka leader may go to Mumbai to attend the party executive meet. Yeddyurappa has been upset with the party leadership after he was removed from the chief minister's post. He has been at the loggerheads with his hand-picked successor Sadanand Gowda, who is already at the meet.
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