Munde keeps BJP guessing

BJP sources said Munde did not get in touch with any senior leader of the party after talks between him and party president Nitin Gadkari broke down Sunday night. This set the alarm bells ringing in BJP amid rumours that Munde was mulling over joining the Congress.

The present crisis in the BJP is being seen as a direct fall out of an internal fued between Munde and party president Gadkari (both from Maharashtra) over the control of party affairs in the state.

A meeting of top party leaders, attended by Gadkari, BJP in-charge of Maharashtra M Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh, Ananth Kumar and Ramlal was held at L K Advani’s residence. Sources said the party decided to adopt a wait-and-watch stand on the situation and not take any strong measure like expelling Munde from the party.

Munde is said to be in contact with senior Congress leaders, including its Maharashtra in-charge Mohan Prakash. The Deputy Leader of BJP in Lok Sabha claims to have the support of three party MPs and 15 MLAs from Maharashtra.