As it happened: Nitin Gadkari gets BJP support

Gadkari must resign: Jethmalani
With pressure rising on BJP President Nitin Gadkari over graft allegations, Ram Jethmalani on Tuesday morning held a press conference where he insisted that Gadkari must resign.

Jethmalani also said that he would not quit the party.

Click here to read in detail what Ram Jethmalani said

Mahesh's resignation
Mahesh Jethmalani on Monday resigned from the party's national executive saying he cannot function till Gadkari continues to be the president.

'RSS wants Gadkari to quit'
Speaking to a Television news channel, Ram Jethmalani said that RSS also believes Gadkari should step down, but they wouldn't voice out their opinion because of past associations.

Jethmalani's statement has no value: BJP
BJP played down Ram Jethmalani's remark on that several senior leaders within the party are unhappy with the current state of affairs and want Gadkari to quit.

Click here to read in detail

Gadkari to meet Advani
Meanwhile, Nitin Gadkari reportedly met senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj for around an hour. He is also expected to meet BJP veteran LK Advani later in the day.

'No need to publicise internal problems'
BJP leader Balbir Punj criticised Jethmalani for his remark that there is a clear division within the party on Nitin Gadkari.

"There are enough opportunities and internal mechanisms available within the party where anybody can raise any issue concerning the party. And therefore, those who are trying to publicise the problems concerning the party, they are not doing any service either to the party or to the ideology to which they are supposed to be committed," said Punj.

Click here to read in detail what Balbir Punj said

Sushma Swaraj supports Gadkari?
The latest statement by the senior BJP leader said that she "supports party President Nitin Gadkari".

Earlier, reports suggested that Sushma Swaraj too had said that she could not support Nitin Gadkari as the party president any more.

'Jethmalanis not so important'
"Views expressed by Ram Jethmalani and Mahesh Jethmalani are not so important, as they are not the party's core members," Sushil Kumar Modi said.

Don't attack Rahul Gandhi: Congress
Congress MP Rajiv Shukla lashed out at BJP MP and veteran lawyer Ram Jethmalani for targetting Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi.

"As far as Jethmalani is concerned, I can only advise 'uncle' Jethmalani that he should stay away from these kinds of observations. He is too old, too senior to make such an observation about Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi is not saying anything against Mr. Jethmalani," said Shukla.

Courtesy: ANI

LK Advani skipped the BJP core group meeting.

BJP core group meeting ended and BJP spokesperson Rajiv Shankar addressed the media.

The BJP said, "Nitin Gadkari and LK Advani skipped the core meeting to allow frank disclosure."

The party also said that they have full faith in Gadkari's leadership.

BJP added that, "Gurumurthy said there was no moral or legal wrongdoing by Gadkari."

The party said that Gadkari was willing to face any probe.

BJP told party workers not to air views that will hurt party sentiments in public.