New Delhi: The BJP may have registered an unprecedented victory with Narendra Modi leading the charge, but the party patriarch L.K. Advani appeared reluctant to give credit to Mr Modi for its stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
Mr Advani, who is unwilling to be a part of the Modi-led government but still wants a respectable position, in fact suggested that Mr Modi’s contribution in the victory has to be analysed. His remarks ca-me as the BJP and RSS leaderships are deliberating on the post-poll scenario and on portfolios.
Mr Advani’s name is doing the rounds as the next Lok Sabha Speaker, though he apparently wants to continue as NDA chairman. BJP chief Rajnath Singh met Mr Advani in the morning amid speculation that Sushma Swaraj, considered close to the veteran leader, is pushing for an important portfolio. With senior leader Arun Jaitley losing the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, a section within the party feels Ms Swaraj’s claim to a major Cabinet post has got stronger.
However according to sources, Mr Jaitley, the party’s key strategist and troubleshooter, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, is still in the race for one of the top four portfolios. Speculation is rife in the party that Mr Jaitley could get either finance or external affairs.
The RSS’ shadow looms large as it will take a call on selecting a new party president in case Rajnath Singh joins the Cabinet. The BJP top brass is in constant touch with the top RSS leadership.
After it became evident that the BJP was heading for a majority on its own, Mr Advani visited the party headquarters in the afternoon with his daughter. The senior saffron leader, who was against Mr Modi’s elevation in the party and was eyeing the PM’s post for himself, was greeted with “Modi Modi” chants by Mr Modi’s supporters.
Celebrations had begun at the BJP headquarters since the morning. “We won in places where we had never won in the past. Amid all these things, people who are in power in the government and those who are in politics should also collectively analyse this result and take lessons,” said Mr Advani.
He then added, “In this victory, the contribution of Mr Modi’s leadership, the RSS and other organisations has to be analysed. But today’s result is against corruption, misgovernance and dynastic rule.”
In Vadodara, one of the two parliamentary constituencies he contested, Mr Modi described himself as “Majdoor (Labourer) No. 1,” and reached out to all political outfits seeking their help in running the nation. He said his responsibility was to “take everyone along in running the nation” and invoked his campaign motto “Sabka sath, sabka vikas” (With all, development for all).
Mr Modi will visit Varanasi on Saturday where he will also perform “Ganga aarti”. The BJP’s PM nominee visited his mother to seek her blessings on Friday morning in Gandhinagar after the poll results indicated a thumping victory for his party .
The BJP parliamentary board will meet here on Saturday which will be attended by Mr Modi. Sources said any major decision was not likely at this meeting.
The party is expected to decide the date on which Mr Modi will be formally elected leader of its parliamentary party. The parliamentary board might also decide the date on which Mr Modi will take the oath as the PM which according to sources is likely to be on May 21. Around 20-25 ministers are likely to be sworn in initially.
