BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde sent shock waves across political circles on Sunday when he tendered his resignation from all official positions
BJP general secretary Gopinath Munde sent shock waves across political circles on Sunday when he tendered his resignation from all official positions in the party. Maintaining that he is still a loyal party worker, a visibly upset Munde speaks to Prashant Hamine and blames the undemocratic functioning of the party for his resignation
What prompted you to quit all party posts?
My decision has nothing to do with Madhu Chavan's appointment as the Mumbai unit president. I had been thinking of stepping down for the last four months. I sought to restore the process of democratic decision making in the party. I have been putting across my views to the party leadership for the last two years, but I only received lukewarm response. I, therefore, decided to step down.
Ex-MP Ram Naik and state party president Nitin Gadkari have gone to New Delhi to meet the party central leadership? Why did you decide to stay back in Mumbai?
I was summoned by the BJP central leadership. I have taken a stand. I have conveyed my sentiments to BJP legislature party leader Eknath Khadse and leader of opposition in legislative council Pandurang Phundkar. They will go on my behalf and present my views before the party top brass.
Does your refusal to go to Delhi mean that you are rebelling against the party?
No. I have not challenged the authority of the party. I am in touch with senior party leaders, including party president Rajnath Singh. Though I have resigned from all organisational posts in the party, I will continue to work as a loyal worker.
You have claimed that you were being sidelined by vested interests in the party?
The party was functioning in an undemocratic manner. All decisions were being taken by few leaders without consulting other senior members of the party. In 2004, I wasn't even intimidated about the decision to remove me from the post of state party president. An office staffer informed me, moments before I was to address the media. I had brought this to the notice of late Pramod Mahajan. He also did not approve of it.
Is it true that a section of the party leaders are trying to sideline those who were close to late Pramod Mahajan?
Only those who conspire against others are flourishing in the party. No internal elections are held before appointing candidates to important posts.
You have been the OBC face of the party. You have met NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal. Are you planning to float a separate OBC front? Have you been approached by any other political party?
BJP was a cadre-based party. I transformed it into a mass-based party. I cannot comment on the future now. I have no plans to float a separate OBC front. I am not leaving the BJP. I was and will always remain a loyal party worker.
You now plan to undertake a month long samvad (dialogue) yatra to meet party workers across the state. Comment.
The yatra will commence at Pune and I will visit one district every day to seek the opinion of the party workers on my decision. The yatra would culminate at Gondia. The party needs to aggressively root for the common man and take up issues plaguing them. Over the past few years, the BJP has become inactive and this has affected the party in a big way.
The Munde-Mahajan families enjoy a good relationship with Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray and Sena executive president, Uddhav Thackeray. Have you had any talks with them?
I have not had the opportunity to speak to Sena chief Bal Thackeray. I had a chat with Uddhav Thackeray before I took the decision for the yatra. He urged me not to precipitate the matter any further as elections are just round the corner. He said that good days were awaiting the Sena-BJP alliance. While leaders cutting across party lines have been calling on me after I announced my decision, I am yet to get a call from my party's state president Nitin Gadkari and state general secretary Vinod Tawde.
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