Bowing to pressure from the party, L. K. Advani withdrew his resignation from three decision-making panels, the Bharatiya Janata Party announced on late on Tuesday.
Talking to newspersons at Advani’s residence, BJP president Rajnath Singh said RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat spoke to Advani. Bhagwat, according to Rajnath Singh, asked the veteran leader to respect the BJP Parliamentary Board’s decision and continue to guide the party. “Advani has decided to accept Bhagwat’s advice,” Singh said.
The BJP Parliamentary Board had on Monday decided not to accept Advani’s resignation from the National Executive, Parliamentary Board and the party’s Election Committee. The Board had requested him to continue to be a member of the three panels.
Not present
Singh said he assured Advani that his concerns about the functioning of the party would be addressed. Apart from Singh, senior leaders including Sushma Swaraj, Jaswant Singh, Uma Bharati, Nitin Gadkari and Anant Kumar were present at Advani’s residence.
However, the problems are far from over for the BJP. Advani himself was not present at the press conference. The BJP statement said the RSS chief “asked” Advani to respect the decision of the Parliamentary Board. Also, the party leaders were unable to explain how they would address Advani’s concern that the RSS was micromanaging affairs in the BJP.
Tuesday’s development is seen as a face-saving measure brought about by the efforts of Advani’s protégé, Sushma Swaraj. With the RSS taking a firm stand, it is clear that Advani’s suggestions would hardly be considered by the Parliamentary Board.
It is also unlikely that the party will make any changes in the announcement making Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the campaign chief of the party. But welcoming the development, Modi tweeted: “I had said yesterday that Advaniji will not disappoint lakhs of karyakartas (workers). Today, I wholeheartedly welcome his decision.”
Congress’ glee
Gleeful over BJP’s discomfiture, the Congress said Modi was a person who was not acceptable even within his family (the BJP) and his friends (the NDA). “How can the people and the country accept such a person?” Congress spokesperson Raj Babbar said. He said an elderly person like Advani was being troubled in the BJP, which was against the ethos of India.
jigeesh.am@thehindu.co.in