Rise of Bombay Club to mark Modi’s BJP

Sources indicate that the Bombay Club comprising the triumvirate of Gadkari, party treasurer Piyush Goyal and sidelined Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu who played a crucial role in mobilising fuel for Narendra Modi’s high decibel media blitzkrieg which is now being touted as the crucial factor in the party’s resounding victory as projected by the exit polls. Gadkari has been on record saying donations were raised by ‘Bombaywalas’.

Both Goyal and Prabhu are chartered accountants by profession and also close to Narendra Modi. As a mark of protest against the cancellation of Narendra Modi’s keynote address at the Wharton India Economic Forum 2013, Prabhu had also called off his visit to the University. 

He was power minister in the Vajpayee government before being sidelined by Shiv Sena leadership.

All the three have equations with the corporate world, which have reposed ‘more faith’ in the leadership and policies of Narendra Modi-led BJP than a Rahul Gandhi-led Congress. ‘The rise of the Bombay Club means shift in power centre to another group of leaders, who are close to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh but have a more liberal view of the economy,’ said sources.   

       

Gadkari’s meeting with the party’s prime ministerial candidate Modi on Monday followed by an interaction with Lal Krishna Advani on Tuesday has led to speculation whether he would be back at the helm at Ashoka Road headquarters of the party.

However, insiders are of the opinion that an early change of guard in party headquarters is unlikely as present incumbent Rajnath Singh still had about two years of his current term left. 

Rajnath during the poll campaign had indicated that his interest remained in looking after the organization than being part of the government. The presidentship of the party would keep him parallel to Modi in protocol wereas a seat in the cabinet would make him a subordinate.