Veteran lK Advani’s resignation from all BJP's posts came as a jolt to the NDA allies and created a flutter in the political circles. As BJP leaders made a beeline to Advani's residence at Prithviraj road, friends and foes alike reacted to the BJP patriarch’s decision to break bonds with a party he raised from the scratch.
While the Congress gloated over the development, the JD(U) and the Shiv Sena hailed Advani's role in the NDA and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) described the development as an internal matter of the BJP.
From Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to RJD chief lalu Prasad and TDP supremo Chandra Babu Naidu to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah everyone had something to say about the decision of the BJP's “eternal yatri” to end his journey with the BJP.
Raising doubts over the fate of the NDA, Janata Dal(U) said it will soon decide its future course of action. “Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Advani were the ones behind the creation of the NDA and our understanding was with them. This has shocked us the most. If Advani is not functional it's a very serious matter for us. JD(U)’s decision will come very soon,” said party national president Sharad Yadav.
JD(U) MP Shivanand Tiwari said that it is ironical that lK Advani, who built the BJP from scratch, has been treated in such a way. He also wondered why Advani resigned from all party posts if Narendra Modi had really taken his blessing on being appointed as the campaign committee chief.
Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut called Advani's resignation a sad event but added that it is an internal matter of the BJP. “Uddhav Thackeray has said that without Vajpayee and Advani, the BJP
will be weak. Uddhav has also said that we need blessings and guidance of Advani. NDA was known for its leaders like Vajpayee, Advani, Bal Thackeray, Parkash Singh Badal. Udhav has said that Advani should be convinced and Advani should lead. Uddhav said that if NDA has to come to power then the whole NDA has to stay together, differences should not come out in open. The BJP is the largest party in NDA, there are tall leaders in BJP but Advani is the tallest. There is no leader like Advani, we respect Advani. We all will convince Advaniji and tell him to lead us,” said Raut.
RSS leader Ram Madhav also described Advani's resignation as unfortunate. “Hope the party leaders would persuade him to take it back,” he tweeted.
Shiromani Akali Dal supremo Parkash Singh Badal gave a guarded reaction to the resignation of Advani from all top BJP posts, saying it was an internal matter of its ally. “It is an internal matter of the BJP,” the Akali veteran said.
He, however, quickly added that SAD is “an inseparable ally of the NDA”.
AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa termed it as an “internal matter of the BJP”. “Whatever has happened is purely an internal matter of the BJP. Politically, I do not think it would be proper for me to make any kind of comment on it,” she said in a similar vein earlier in the day in Chennai when asked about Modi's elevation in the BJP.
“But at the personal level, I will only say that Narendra Modi is a good friend of mine. My good wishes are always with him. Whether he wins an election in Gujarat or whether he achieves an elevation within his own party, I am happy for him. That is all I have to say,” Jayalalithaa said.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh said he would request Advaniji to withdraw his resignation. “Whatever is coming out is not good. There should be a respectable solution to such a crisis. The role of RSS is important in this. RSS leaders are capable of working out a solution as the BJP can't afford to lose a leader like lK Advani. He had worked hard to get BJP where it is now. I request that Advani should withdraw his resignation keeping in mind the present circumstances,” said Singh.
Similarly, BJP leader Uma Bharti appealed to Advani to withdraw his resignation. “I appeal to Advaniji to withdraw his resignation. I heard Sushma Swaraj that she is going to persuade Advaniji. I wish her best of luck and I will be very happy if she manages to do it.”
The Congress termed the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as BJP's election campaign committee chief is the beginning of its complete degeneration and said that resignation of veteran leader lK Advani is one of its repercussions.
“This is the beginning of the complete degeneration of the BJP. It will have its own repercussions,” Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said about the appointment of Modi.
BJP president Rajnath Singh was garlanding him in a way as if an outgoing president welcomes a new president, he said. “This is unusual in our political system. Please remember. Such situations, such incidents are premonitions of the things to come.”
In a cryptic comment, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted, “If his (Advani) opinion didn't matter to you (BJP) yesterday why his resignation is a crisis for you todayIJ “
Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu said that resignation of lK Advani was an internal issue of the BJP and he had nothing to say about it. In a chat with the mediapersons, Naidu said that Narendra Modi factor will have no impact on Andhra Pradesh. “Congress party is weakening in Andhra Pradesh but the BJP is no position to take any advantage of it,” he said.