Leader of Opposition L K Advani’s attempt at course correction on the nuclear issue has provided him with a platform to reclaim his pre-eminent position in the BJP.
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition L K Advani’s attempt at course correction on the nuclear issue has provided him with a platform to reclaim his pre-eminent position in the BJP.
The biggest evidence that Advani’s star is rising again in the party was a telephone call from the RSS top brass on Tuesday to compliment him for his stand on the nuclear deal.
A top BJP source revealed that a senior Sangh functionary indicated to Advani that he had the backing of the organisation to go ahead despite misgivings in a section of the party.
The RSS is keen that the BJP distances itself from the Left’s anti-US stand which has not gone down well with its core middle class constituency.
A senior party leader said “those who know the DNA of the BJP and the Sangh Parivar had been quite uncomfortable earlier with the stated party position on the nuclear issue.
The approach which appeared to be in sync with the Left did not gel with our ideological philosophy. There has always been a fundamental difference between the Left and the BJP.”
A renewed vote of confidence in Advani by the RSS, which has come twice in quick succession, has significant connotation for the organisational command structure of the BJP.
While Rajnath Singh will continue to be the party president, Advani is expected to be elevated to a position of authority, charting out the course of action for the party on key issues.
After being pushed to the margins in the wake of the Jinnah controversy, three years ago, Advani has shown his ability to rise like a phoenix, from the ashes. Advani is back to making political statements for the party.
A number of factors have contributed to Advani’s reincarnation. There had been a gradual realisation among the RSS brass that a public acrimony between them and Advani was only damaging to both. The RSS’s experiments of micro-managing the BJP’s affairs had not been counter-productive.
The Sangh’s most powerful functionary, Mohan Bhagwat, has now asked Advani to reassume a leadership role, which would coincide with the phased withdrawal of several RSS pracharaks from various positions in the BJP.
The RSS’s move comes amid BJP chief Rajnath Singh’s lacklustre term in office and a growing disenchantment with him in the party ranks.
His inability to lead from the front has led prominent second rung leaders like Arun Jaitley, Narendra Modi, M Venkaiah Naidu and Sushma Swaraj to rally around Advani. The possibility of early polls has made them further lean on Advani. A party general secretary told DNA, “With Vajpayee in failing heath, Advaniji is our only bet. He will have to take initiative and assume the role of leader.”
But Advani has a tough task cut out for him. He has to instill confidence in the party cadre without appearing to be trampling on Rajnath’s feet, cement alliances and add fresh allies to the Opposition coalition in the next few months.
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