Not for nothing has Ram Jethmalani earned the sobriquet Battering Ram. The veteran lawyer and Bharatiya Janata Party member loves a good fight, a behavioural trait that has caused him often to clash with his party leadership. So at one level his suspension from the BJP — followed by a show-cause notice — is just a replay of history. Yet this time round there appears to be a conspiratorial backstory to Mr. Jethmalani’s rebellion which has clearly unsettled party president Nitin Gadkari and his backers, among them the ideological high priests at Jhandewalan. The senior Jethmalani straddles both sides of the ideological divide. If in his heyday he defended terror convicts with some élan, more recently he upset the legion of Hindutva warriors with his outbursts against Lord Ram. As against this, Mr. Jethmalani’s current passion is Narendra Modi, whom he appears determined to install as India’s Prime Minister, doing whatever it takes to achieve his objective — from lobbying the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh to leading a campaign to oust Mr. Gadkari. It is this open plotting against the incumbent BJP chief — with all its attendant consequences — that has resulted in the party acting against Mr. Jethmalani.
It is apparent enough that the BJP has read deeper meanings into Mr. Jethmalani’s quarrels with the party leadership on the appointment of Ranjit Sinha as the new CBI chief. Mr. Jethmalani not only questioned the BJP’s “flawed” opposition to Mr. Sinha’s appointment, he made sure he was joined by other dissenting voices from within the party. It cannot have been a coincidence that the same set of rebels also back Mr. Modi for Prime Minister and want Mr. Gadkari despatched as a first step towards this larger goal. In other words, l’affaire Jethmalani is not so much about an individual’s misdemeanours as it is symptomatic of the turf battles raging within the BJP. A victory in Gujarat for Mr. Modi — especially if it is handsome — can only deepen the fissures, with the Chief Minister’s backers certain to pitch him as a superhero waiting to deliver India to the saffron fold. Yet the Gujarat Chief Minister evokes deep fears, both within the BJP and among its potential allies. The BJP knows that the organisation will turn into a one-man show under Mr. Modi leading to the virtual eclipse of those with higher ambitions. The RSS, which nurtured Mr. Modi, abhors the cult of personality which it sees as damaging to ideology. The BJP has so far had little luck with expanding its alliance of parties. With Mr. Modi in command, potential allies will have further cause to keep their distance from the BJP.
Keywords: Ram Jethmalani suspension, Narendra Modi, BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Nitin Gadkari, Ranjit Sinha, CBI chief appointment
Its not just about choosing a leader, BJP doesn't even have a good agenda. Unless they are going to leave their 'Hindutva' motto and start providing people with a solid reason as to why they have to come in power and quote the differences they can bring instead of opposing the Govt. just for the sake of being an opposing party, I don't see a future ahead for them, whether its Modi or Nitish.
The fascist tendencies in the BJP are too worrisome to be ignored. That saner voices in the Party are culled ruthlessly probably at the RSS's direction shows that the BJP is hardly anything different from Congress' dynastic politics -- infact BJP is worse as it has a dangerous communal body at the center of the party.
Every time, it has been observed that anyone who talks about the right things to be done in the BJP is humiliated with a suspension/expulsion/demotion -- we have seen this in the past with Jaswant Singh and even Advani himself when he made the famous remarks on Jinnah in Pakistan. Since Congress is no longer a choice, it is good that the nation has several options before it including the Aam Admi Party and the Third Front,etc. BJP can put itself in a hopeless state by suspending sane people -- no one is worried.
I agree with Baikadi Suryanarayana Rao. BJP has always been inclined to Hindus and intolerant to minor communities. But when it comes to working on development, they can't develop India only for Hindus. So, its time we look at who is actually working. And one look at Gujurat and Bihar, we all know the answer to it.
In my personal view, all the so called leaders in the BJP are scared
of Mr Modi being the PM Candidate for the simple reason that he will
eclipse them all and their clout will be clipped. I would prefer a
person like Modi to be the PM for atleast two terms or atleast a term.
With his strong anti corruption stance seen in Gujarat and development
agenda, he could do something to change our country's destiny. He has
some fascist tendencies but tell me who does not. Try to meet any
central minister of the current UPA government and you will know what
kind of traits these people carry.
No party in India is free of personality cult. The Gandhi family, Jayalalitha, Chandrababu Naidu, Nitishkumar, Mamata, Thackrey and many more have successfully used the personality cult to further their party's interests. Even in W.bengal the CPM witnessed a steady decline in the post Basu period. If the BJP can benefit from the personality of Modi and provide an alternative to this corrupt regime, we should welcome it
The Hindu too has got into this favourite past time of the media, speculating Narendra modi's future. Isnt Ram Jethmalani too smallan entity within BJP to pull of this sort of a coup to assist Narendra Modi ? Besides if Ram Jethmalani was so keen on installing Modi why would he risk an expulsion ? There is a good chance this could be a pointless speculation dont you think ?.
While I have no problem in agreeing with you that the Gujarath chief
minister evokes deep fears within the BJP the same cannot be said of
his potential allies given the unabashed admiration of jayalalitha for
him and the shameless way in which the so called development man of
Bihar hobnobs with him. Once his chances of becoming PM become clear
others will flock to him like ants getting attracted to honey. When a
Vajpayee was able as the head of a politically untouchable party could
lead a coalition consisting of parties claiming to be secular what
prevents Modi from doing a Vajpayee. I do not find any difference
among leaders of BJP. All of them including Vajpayee have the same
aversion towards minorities. If one justified communal pogrom by
quoting action reaction theory other preached Rajdharma to the one
quoting the said theory and did nothing to remedy the situation.
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