By Chinmayee Dash: Senior BJP leader LK Advani’s recent comments on his blog suggest that the saffron party has conceded its defeat before the 2014 general elections. His views shocked everyone and triggered a debate.
Advani wrote on his blog that a non-BJP, non-Congress PM was ‘feasible’ in 2014. While the Congress would get less than 100 seats, BJP would pose as a rival for the party getting good number of seats. However, neither the Congress nor BJP would be able to form the government. And the third front would seek the support of two major national parties.
The veteran BJP leader predicted that a non-BJP, non-Congress may be installed at the Centre in 2014.
Reacting to his prediction, Congress said that BJP has admitted its defeat before the polls.
Support Independent Journalism? Keep us live.
The prediction by the senior party leader like Advani would no doubt discourage the party workers. It clearly shows that Advani is skeptical about his position after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi gained importance within the party.
The anti-Modi feelings of Advani would put much pressure on rest of the leaders ahead of the polls. The statement comes amidst the secret meeting between party president Nitin Gadkari and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who is also a bitter critic of Modi, over the Prime Ministerial candidate for the next polls. Gadkari reportedly assured Nitish that no decision will be taken without consulting the NDA allies.
While Advani wants to be made the PM candidate, majority of the leaders within the party opine Modi as the perfect face for the PM of the country.
While Congress president Sonia Gandhi wants to see her son Rahul holding the top post in the party and government, Advani’s such statement shows that there is no unity within the party.
The party has been deviated from the ideology of ‘Hindutva’ as it feels it would not help to gain more votes in a secular country. But moving on the principles of secularism, it has lost its own principles, which were set by the veteran leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee.