Split in BJP ranks forced Gadkari to quit: RSS ideologue MG Vaidya

A clear-cut division in the higher ranks of the BJP over his continuance as party chief for second term, prompted incumbent BJP president Nitin Gadkari to quit the post and not to seek a second term, senior RSS ideologue MG Vaidya told reporters here on Wednesday.

"Gadkari probably realised that the party should not suffer due to him and might have therefore decided to call it a day," former RSS spokesperson Vaidya said.

Senior party leader and former union finance minister in the NDA regime, Yashwant Sinha, along with Mahesh Jethmalani also showed interest in elections to the top party post, he said. "RSS never forces its decisions on the BJP and it is to decide its own strategy," he said.

On Gadkari's plans to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur constituency, Vaidya said it is for him and the BJP to decide.