Advani is consistently making it clear that the BJP's poster-boy is not his choice for the top job. He is willing to back anyone but Mr Modi
It was at the BJP national executive meeting in Goa when senior leader lK Advani and the party backed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi post-2002 Godhra violence, even though the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was critical of the non-action by the Gujarat Government in containing the conflagration.
A decade on, BJP’s national executive meet this week in Goa might see the same Mr Advani trying to hinder Mr Modi’s elevation. No one expects the Goa meet to nominate Mr Modi as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. However, what is expected is that he may be made the chairman of the campaign committee for the coming Assembly elections in four States, which is a step forward.
Why is it that Mr Advani is consistently making it clear that the BJP’s poster-boy is not his choice for the top jobIJ Various reasons are attributed for his stand. The party senior himself has not given up his dreams of becoming the NDA’s prime ministerial candidate and would like to keep this option open till the last minute. Despite his advanced age Mr Advani is physically fit and continues to be a leader of stature and would be acceptable to the NDA allies, according to his supporters.
Mr Modi on the other hand, has alienated the top leaders of the party including Mr Advani because of his arrogance and reluctance to take others along with him. Many are put off by his showmanship and arrogance. There are rumours that Mr Advani may shift his constituency in 2014 election to Madhya Pradesh rather than continue to represent Gandhinagar in Gujarat.
Again, Mr Advani may sincerely want to keep the NDA, which he had built assiduously for the past two decades, intact. Foisting Mr Modi on allies who are reluctant to accept a ‘non-secular person’ with a Godhra taint may prove detrimental. The JD(U), NDA’s major ally has already given the BJP time till the end of this year to decide on a ‘secular’ prime ministerial candidate.
Mr Advani is also promoting leaders like the leader of Opposition in lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, who is more acceptable to him as the prime ministerial candidate, if he does not get nominated himself. He is also trying to run down Modi
Also, by praising Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is also from the backward classes, by pointing out that his achievements are more than Mr Modi’s as he has turned around a backward State like Madhya Pradesh while Gujarat was already a developed State, he is sending a not so subtle message to the party bigwigs. If he wins Madhya Pradesh for the third time, which he may, Mr Chouhan can also lay claims for the top job as could Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh if he wins the State for the third time.
While it is a fact that Mr Modi has the support of the cadre, many senior leaders in the party, also in the fray for the top job, remain unconvinced on Mr Modi’s candidature. It suits them to fire from Mr Advani’s shoulders.
But will Mr Advani be able to get his way this timeIJ He has been using his blog to air his views freely. It was he who prevailed upon the party to remove the former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa. The party paid a huge price in the recent Karnataka election for this action.
He successfully torpedoed a second term for former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari who had the full backing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Now he wants the same Mr Gadkari to head the campaign committee for the four State Assembly elections to block Mr Modi. In fact, he is willing to back anyone but Mr Modi!
The question is what will the BJP doIJ It is true that Mr Modi has not been the unanimous choice of either the RSS or the BJP. BJP president Rajnath Singh too refers to him only as the most popular leader of the country.
It is going to be a difficult exercise as the party has to reconcile Mr Advani to Mr Modi’s candidature or select someone else for the top job as Mr Advani wants. This may be a difficult going by the hard line Mr Advani has taken against the Gujarat Chief Minister. It is not to BJP’s advantage to project a disunited front ahead of the Assembly or the lok Sabha poll. This would send a wrong signal to the electorate.
It would be interesting to see whether the party decides to block Mr Modi or works out a compromise formula or buy time. Meanwhile, a delighted Congress is enjoying a ringside view.