After a
virtual split in the NDA, divisions within the BJP also surfaced on the
question of Presidential candidate. While the popular perception in the BJP and
NDA is that no useful purpose will be served by opposing Pranab Mukherjee for the post of the
President, L K Advani was hell bent to oppose him. Aided by Subramanian Swamy
and Sudheendra Kulkarni, he finally roped in P A Sangma. But several BJP
leaders are upset with the veteran BJP leader L K Advani. Instead of publicly
opposing or also in the meeting, they opted out. While BJP president Nitin
Gadkari left for Nagpur yesterday itself and made it clear that he would return
only after the wedding of his son on June 24, leader of the Opposition Arun
Jaitley also skipped the strategy meeting at Advani's residence this evening.
Party
general secretary and chief spokesman ravi shanker prasad was also not there.
Of course Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Subramanian
Swamy, Sudhindra Kulkarni and others were present. When contacted, jaitley's aide said,
"Saheb is unwell."
Some BJP leaders are also upset over the fact that Advani is using non-party channels to play a pivotal role for BJP and insisting on giving a token fight to the UPA on the presidential poll at the cost of the party and the NDA's unity.
Some BJP leaders are also upset over the fact that Advani is using non-party channels to play a pivotal role for BJP and insisting on giving a token fight to the UPA on the presidential poll at the cost of the party and the NDA's unity.
