Wrath yatra halts
21 March 2014 12:40 AM GMT
In a well-calculated move, BJP president Rajnath Singh earlier in the day ‘allowed’ the party veteran to decide his own seat for the general election knowing full well that his chances of going against the desire of the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) was remote.
By evening, the party’s move started to yield results as Advani issued a statement agreeing to contest from Gandhinagar. This effectively ended the 24 hour-long sob drama which the party’s seniormost leader enacted after his name was announced from Gandhinagar on Wednesday.
Eighty-seven year old Advani is the sitting MP from Gandhinagar for the past 16 years. He wanted to change his seat this time around as a sign of no-confidence in the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
On hearing about Advani’s ‘annoyance’ over his candidature from Gandhinagar, Modi swung into ‘damage control’ mode and met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat twice. RSS intervention worked. The Sangh told Advani that his candidature from Gandhinagar was final.
Few hours after Sangh’s directive, Advani issued a statement, which read: ‘I had some weeks ago said I would be contesting the Parliamentary election from Gandhinagar itself.’ On the context of his meeting Modi earlier in the day, he said, ‘This morning Shri Narendra Modi, chief minister, Gujarat, also came over to my residence and emphasised that the people of Gujarat are keen that I represent Gandhinagar Lok Sabha once again.’
His statement further read, ‘I have been integrally connected with Gujarat since migrating from Karachi in 1947. I have represented the state both in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Having represented Gandhinagar constituency in the Lok Sabha since 1991, I have decided to contest the 2014 general elections from Gandhinagar itself. I have conveyed my opinion to Rajnath Singh.’
Many see Advani’s statement as coming under extreme pressure from the party and the Sangh, which left him with ‘no other option’ but to contest from Gandhinagar.
By evening, the party’s move started to yield results as Advani issued a statement agreeing to contest from Gandhinagar. This effectively ended the 24 hour-long sob drama which the party’s seniormost leader enacted after his name was announced from Gandhinagar on Wednesday.
Eighty-seven year old Advani is the sitting MP from Gandhinagar for the past 16 years. He wanted to change his seat this time around as a sign of no-confidence in the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.
On hearing about Advani’s ‘annoyance’ over his candidature from Gandhinagar, Modi swung into ‘damage control’ mode and met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat twice. RSS intervention worked. The Sangh told Advani that his candidature from Gandhinagar was final.
Few hours after Sangh’s directive, Advani issued a statement, which read: ‘I had some weeks ago said I would be contesting the Parliamentary election from Gandhinagar itself.’ On the context of his meeting Modi earlier in the day, he said, ‘This morning Shri Narendra Modi, chief minister, Gujarat, also came over to my residence and emphasised that the people of Gujarat are keen that I represent Gandhinagar Lok Sabha once again.’
His statement further read, ‘I have been integrally connected with Gujarat since migrating from Karachi in 1947. I have represented the state both in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. Having represented Gandhinagar constituency in the Lok Sabha since 1991, I have decided to contest the 2014 general elections from Gandhinagar itself. I have conveyed my opinion to Rajnath Singh.’
Many see Advani’s statement as coming under extreme pressure from the party and the Sangh, which left him with ‘no other option’ but to contest from Gandhinagar.
Next Story
