Talks between BJP president Nitin Gadkari and party leader Gopinath Munde remained inconclusive late on Sunday night with both sides sticking to their stand over appointment of their men in key posts in Maharashtra.
“I have been holding talks with our State in-charge M. Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar and general secretary [organisation] Ramlal. Today [on Sunday] I met party president Nitin Gadkari, senior leader L.K. Advani and others. I told them about all my thoughts. The talks are continuing in a positive direction. This is all I have to say,” Mr. Munde told journalists.
A visibly unhappy Mr. Munde, BJP's prominent OBC face in Maharashtra, refused to speak further on the issue.
“He has kept his viewpoint in front of the leadership. We have discussed all the issues in a positive atmosphere. I am hopeful there will be a positive solution to all the issues,” Mr. Naidu said.
Informed sources say Mr. Gadkari wants to remove Mr. Munde's man Pandurang Phundkar and appoint Vinod Thawade in his place as Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Vidhan Parishad. Mr. Munde is not ready to concede this.
Mr. Munde, BJP's Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, is unhappy with other appointments as well, including that of Vikas Mathkari in place of his candidate Yogesh Gogawale to the post of BJP Pune city chief.
Mr. Munde also wants a greater hold in the party's affairs in Maharashtra, which is not acceptable to Mr. Gadkari, who also hails from the same State.
