Even as the factional feud and power struggle is raging within the BJP, the RSS has stepped in, questioning Narendra Modi's ‘style of functioning' and made it known that the issue of the party's prime ministerial candidate should be considered only after the 2014 general elections.
An article in the latest issue of the RSS mouthpiece, Panchajanya , leaves little doubt that the Sangh is not pleased with the manner in which the Gujarat Chief Minister forced BJP president Nitin Gadkari's hand to sack his arch-rival Sanjay Joshi from the national executive hours before the Mumbai conclave got under way last week.
Advani's criticism
Dissensions over Mr. Gadkari's leadership and Mr. Modi's “arm-twisting tactics” have come out in the open in recent days. Two days ago, veteran leader L.K. Advani, in his blog, criticised Mr. Gadkari's leadership and maintained that the people were disappointed with the BJP's failure to live up to their expectations. He called for introspection.
Several candidates
The article in Panchajanya has gone to the extent of saying there are several prime ministerial candidates in the BJP and that the issue should be decided only after the general elections.
“The role of Narendra Modi in the Sanjay Joshi episode at the BJP's national executive meeting is worth pondering over,” the article said. Mr. Modi, who had stayed away from the Delhi national executive, announced his decision to attend the Mumbai conclave only after Mr. Gadkari sacked his bete noire from the national executive.
It is a mystery why Mr. Modi, a staunch believer in the Sangh ideology, could not deal with his anger towards fellow RSS worker Joshi, the article said.
Misinformation
“By making the presence of Sanjay Joshi at the BJP national executive a prestige issue, why did he [Mr. Modi] give the media an opportunity to spread misinformation about the Sangh and BJP?”
