In fact, the fresh charges against him would accelerate the demand for his removal as NDA convenor.
NEW DELHI: Already shunned by his party and cold-shouldered by the BJP, former defence minister and NDA convenor George Fernandes on Tuesday received a big jolt when the CBI registered an FIR against him for irregularities in the purchase of defence equipment putting a question mark over his 50-year-old political career.
In fact, the fresh charges against him would accelerate the demand for his removal as NDA convenor.
Political analysts said “It appears to be the end of the road” for the fiery socialist who single-handedly tormented the Congress party for half-a-century.
Ironically, oblivious of the CBI FIR, earlier in the day Fernandes shot off a letter to President APJ Abdul Kalam demanding the dismissal of the UPA Government on the issue of alleged corruption citing an international anti-graft watchdog report.
“Please dismiss this government and order elections to relieve the country from the humility that we are presently subjected to by the corrupt establishment of the government,” said Fernandes.
The CBI move has come at the most inopportune time as Fernandes, who was ousted as Janata Dal (United) president by Sharad Yadav recently, was searching for an alternate political platform. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was trying to rehabilitate him in the run up to Uttar Pradesh polls early next year.
With fresh corruption cases slapped against him, even the Samajwadis may not be eager to bail him out making his political isolation complete. After his blistering attack on the Nitish Kumar-Sharad Yadav duo last month, the JDU has communicated to the BJP that he should be removed as NDA convenor.
Much to Fernandes’ discomfiture, the BJP supported Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar when Fernandes attacked Kumar for bad governance.
Trouble was brewing for the stormy petrel of Indian politics the moment the Congress-led UPA took charge at the Centre.
The Congress had boycotted him in Parliament ever since the Tehelka expose and the CBI FIR has come handy for the Congress to continue its fusillade against him. Trashing the charges, Fernandes alleged that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was behind the CBI move.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javedkar declined to categorically state whether he will continue as NDA convenor.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}