Shourie, Govindacharya drafted veterans’ letter

The growing discontentment over “dissent note” given by BJP veterans was drafted by Arun Shourie and KN Govindacharya, who framed it on the advise of the senior leaders, say insiders.

The note, blaming party president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Bihar Assembly election fiasco, clearly mentioned that people involved electioneering should not be allowed to review the reasons of debacle. The blame-game is not limited to infighting within the BJP, but it has moved a step ahead as loyalist of Modi-Shah has also dragged the RSS into the mess.

Party MP Hukumdev Narayan Yadav blaming RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s quota review remark for the Bihar debacle indicates that everything is not in order within the BJP and the RSS. Yadav, who is close to Amit Shah camp, had said that Bhagwat’s “untimely” remarks on the reservation policy made people perceive “BJP as the ghulam of RSS”.

According to sources, now the rebel camp is all set to put more pressure to get removed Shah from the party president’s post. A top-level source said if it happens, Urban Development Minister Venkaih Naidu may emerge as the first choice for the coveted post as he enjoys the blessings of both the camps—Advani and Modi.

“Given that Naidu has experience of running the party while being BJP president, he may be given a chance to serve the party. Though things are at nascent stage, getting Naidu elected to BJP chief post wouldn’t be an easy move for both the camps,” a party insider said. 

Reportedly, some party leaders have alleged that their phones are being tapped soon after the people’s mandate came the Mahagadbandhan’s favour in Bihar. They said phones are being tapped to monitor the activities of “particular” leader who are close to some or other camp.