Hoardings of the former BJP general secretary Sanjay Joshi, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have surfaced in Lucknow announcing that the former will take part in a ‘Swachh Bharat Abiyaan’ programme on January 14.
Interestingly, it was Mr. Modi who forced the BJP to show the door to Mr. Joshi in 2012 after they had fallen out over some issue regarding party affairs in Gujarat.
Though there is no mention of the BJP or other senior party leaders, the hoardings put up by the “Jagrook Matdata Manch,” which is organising the programme, has come up in at least six prominent localities across Lucknow, including outside the State BJP office.
BJP sources said some party leaders might attend the programme featuring Mr. Joshi. Claiming that there was no political significance in the hoardings, a senior state BJP leader said the cleanliness drive started by Mr. Modi was a non-political initiative and everyone was invited to join it. However, party sources said Mr. Joshi’s hoardings showed that his “political vanvas” might soon be over.
It might also be an indication of Mr. Modi softening his stand towards his fellow Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ‘pracharak’ since the former Chief Minister has moved from Gujarat and consolidated his position nationally.
Significantly, the presence of Mr. Joshi has been seen in some important RSS events in recent weeks. Mr. Joshi joined the BJP as a Sangh nominee and was made the national general secretary. But the power tussle continued between him and Mr. Modi, particularly after the latter was made the Chief Minister. Finally, it was Mr. Modi who prevailed, with Mr. Joshi being shunted back to the parent organisation, RSS, as a ‘pracharak.’
