TNI Bureau: The rift within the BJP has widened further, as veteran BJP leader LK Advani slammed the party on his blog today and called for a self-introspection. Advani also took a potshot at BJP President Nitink Gadkari.

There is little doubt the Gadkari-Narendra Modi combine is going to dominate the national politics in the BJP in future and there is hardly any place for leaders like LK Advani. None in the BJP today considers Advani as the Prime Ministerial candidate and Modi has emerged as a strong contender for this job.

Advani’s statement is based on reality, as experts believe that the saffron party to take advantage of the popular sentiment against the Congress Party. Although Congress-led UPA lost the credibility and trust, BJP failed to get a place in people’s hearts.

Advani was unhappy with the way the Karnataka and Jharkhand affairs handled. “The BJP had not risen to the occasion at a time when there was anger against the UPA government over various scams,” he said.

“If people are today angry with the UPA government, they are also disappointed with us.  The situation …calls for introspection,” wrote Advani.

“The results in Uttar Pradesh (assembly polls), the manner in which the party welcomed BSP Ministers who were removed by Mayawati ji on charges of corruption, the party’s handling of Jharkhand and Karnataka – all these events have undermined the party’s campaign against corruption,” wrote the veteran BJP leader.

“The mood within the party these days is not upbeat. The results in Uttar Pradesh, the manner in which the party welcomed BSP Ministers who were removed by Mayawati ji on charges of corruption, the party’s handling of Jharkhand and Karnataka – all these events have undermined the party’s campaign against corruption,” he added.