'PM Modi' harmed NDA: Sharad

Janata Dal(United) chief Sharad Yadav and senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi on Sunday sought to link the BJP’s poor poll performance to its “faulty campaign strategy”.
Reacting to Verdict-2009, Yadav said here that projecting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate was one of the factors for the poor performance of  the NDA in general and the BJP in particular.

He said while his party and the BJP swept the polls in Bihar, the latter failed to do so in other states. He also said Varun Gandhi’s “hate speech” damaged the NDA’s poll prospects. Varun’s speech was unconstitutional and against the country’s spirit of unity, Yadav said.

“The BJP should analyse the reasons for its defeat,” he suggested.
Joshi, an arch rival of Advani, criticised the party’s campaign strategy. He also sought to find fault with selection of poll candidates.

Joshi, who was elected MP from Varanasi, however, refused to directly blame any person for the poll debacle. Within the BJP, the knives are not quite out in the aftermath of the party’s defeat.

They are being sharpened in the minds of pretenders eyeing the post of leader of the Opposition which would be vacated once Advani relinquishes it.

A buffer

As for Advani, before the old order fades into history and the new order rises to the fore, the octogenarian former deputy prime minister will likely play the role of buffer between the warring second-rung leaders anxious to occupy key posts in the party.

Joshi, an old guard, has already “welcomed” Advani’s decision to step down as the  leader of Opposition. In fact, he is keen to step in.

Assuming responsibility

It would entitle him to project himself as a future prime ministerial candidate if the party is not otherwise beset by internal squabbling.

Quizzed whether he would take up the responsibility, the former BJP president said he would not shirk away from undertaking the responsibility.

Elected from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, Sushma Swaraj, an Advani loyalist and another contender for the key post in the Lok Sabha, has tactically sought to maintain status quo by saying it was “painful” to even imagine replacing Advani.

Deputy-Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh, who won from Darjeeling, would also stake claim. Besides, party president Rajnath Singh could also throw in his hat in the ring.

A battle royale awaits for the most important post of  party chief with the incumbent, Rajnath Singh, scheduled to  vacate it later this year.

Taking moral responsibility for the BJP’s ignominious defeat, Rajnath has already offered to resign from the post (like Advani). Among the seniors, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu could re-invent and re-fashion themselves for the race for the post of party chief,  according party sources. 

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who could not deliver to the high level of  expectations of his followers this time, would yet remain the man to watch. Modi with his “mass base appeal” and tight grip over Gujarat is expected to call the shots. He may also have support of the RSS, the parent organisation.

The RSS is not averse to Advani quitting the post of leader of Opposition and making way for a new one. “Whatever decision is taken (on who should be Leader of Opposition) has to be taken by L K Advani himself and the party. The Sangh will have no specific view on this issue,” RSS leader Ram Madhav summed up on Sunday throwing the ball in the court of  the senior leader.

Madhav’s comments came after three influential RSS leaders — Madan Das Devi, Suresh Soni and Bhaiyyaji Joshi — met Advani on Sunday and reviewed the scenario in the wake of the BJP’s abysmal performance. Answering a question, Madhav admitted that results were not up to the expectations of the party and the RSS. He said the BJP will have to analyse the results and take appropriate decisions.
Party sources maintained that major changes were imminent and the leaders were only awaiting the poll dust to settle down “before the new order cometh.”
 Until then Advani may be a night watch man.
DH News Service