Advani skips party meet, raises eyebrows

NEW DELHI: An innocuous move from Leader of Opposition LK Advani on Thursday to abstain from the BJP’s central office-bearers meeting held at party headquarters, raised speculations in the principal Opposition party circles.

The officials line cited by Advani was that he had to receive visiting foreign dignitaries at his residence around the same time, and had sought leave from BJP president Rajnath Singh. But, it is also a fact that Advani, for some time now, is keeping himself away from organisational matters and giving full room to Singh to run the party the way he deems right. He is intervening only when specifically asked to by the party president or when the developments of compelling political nature take place. 

Party sources say that he has also not been happy the way the RSS has been trying to take control of the party. His remarks at Chennai national executive meeting last year, asking the RSS to lay off, has become more relevant for the day than ever. No BJP leader of stature holding various positions has guts to speak anything, which could even indirectly be construed to be against the RSS.

Thursday meeting of BJP central office bearers had its significance. It was perhaps for the first time when four full time RSS Pracharaks were invited to office bearers meeting. The Pracharaks were also given charge of organisational matters and were declared as “moral authority” in the party. Advani, sources said, is not pleased with the development. However, Singh and the newly inducted Pracharak, visited Advani after the meet.