Brusque rss sets aside Advani’s objections
21 Jan 2013 7:39 AM IST
Consensus over the next BJP president was achieved by RSS leadership on Sunday, but not before party veteran L K Advani put up a spirited fight to deny incumbent Nitin Gadkari a second term. Sources said Advani finally agreed with Gadkari getting an extension after RSS put its foot down on. ‘RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had telephoned Advani on Saturday, where Bhagwat made it clear that no other name will be entertained for the position apart from Gadkari,’ said a senior party functionary. Sources added that Bhagwat’s emissary RSS Sahkaryavah and Bhaiyaji Joshi also held a meeting with the veteran BJP leader on Saturday, where Advani was specifically told not to create obstacles to Gadkari’s second tenure.
BJP on Sunday issued notification for its presidential election which said filing of nominations will take place on 23 January and the results will be declared the same day if the poll is unanimous. However, if there’s a contest, the date of result declaration will be announced on Wednesday.
The notification was supposed to be announced on Saturday, as elections in 18 states were completed. The process was delayed as Advani made noises. He has been in favour of a clean candidate for the top post. It is learnt that the name of leader of the opposition in ls Sushma Swaraj also surfaced but she excused herself. Gujarat cm Narendra Modi’s name too did the rounds, but Modi himself didn’t look keen for the post as he will play a key role in BJP’s campaign for the next assembly polls.
The party, however, was evasive over the internal wrangling over presidential election. ‘We don’t have a dynasty but a democracy and there shouldn’t be any confusion over it. According to the party constitution, we conduct elections from regional to national level and that election process is on,’ said BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
BJP on Sunday issued notification for its presidential election which said filing of nominations will take place on 23 January and the results will be declared the same day if the poll is unanimous. However, if there’s a contest, the date of result declaration will be announced on Wednesday.
The notification was supposed to be announced on Saturday, as elections in 18 states were completed. The process was delayed as Advani made noises. He has been in favour of a clean candidate for the top post. It is learnt that the name of leader of the opposition in ls Sushma Swaraj also surfaced but she excused herself. Gujarat cm Narendra Modi’s name too did the rounds, but Modi himself didn’t look keen for the post as he will play a key role in BJP’s campaign for the next assembly polls.
The party, however, was evasive over the internal wrangling over presidential election. ‘We don’t have a dynasty but a democracy and there shouldn’t be any confusion over it. According to the party constitution, we conduct elections from regional to national level and that election process is on,’ said BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.
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