In the absence of a credible second generation leader, the BJP has done the sensible thing.
The Indian Express |
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In the absence of a credible second generation leader, the BJP has done the sensible thing. It has united over the choice of L.K. Advani as its prime ministerial candidate, should it find itself in a position to form a government after the next general election.
Although Advani does not by any means represent a generational change within the party, the moment is nevertheless a significant one for the party. For three reasons. First, it officially brings to a close the Atal Bihari Vajpayee era in BJP politics. The 8216;vikas purush8217; has vacated the centre stage finally, allowing the 8216;lauh purush8217; to emerge unchallenged. Second, it puts an end to nascent flights of prime-ministerial ambition in many a breast within the party8217;s senior leadership. Rajnath Singh, Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha have had at various points of time in the recent past indicated that Advani as the party8217;s choice for prime-ministership was an open question. Therefore Monday8217;s ceremony of unity, with Joshi at hand with the celebratory mithai, signals a unity of purpose that was earlier conspicuous by its absence. Third, and very significant for an ideologically driven party like the BJP, it conveys the message that the rift between Advani and the RSS has ended, and that the Jinnah controversy has been finally laid to rest.
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The Sangh Parivar should understand that if the idea of such a nomination is to project the BJP as a relevant force in Indian politics, it must now allow Advani complete political autonomy. The Leader of the Opposition has appeared hemmed in by forces outside the party and within it, whether overtly as on the M.A. Jinnah controversy or, covertly, as on the Indo-US nuclear deal. While some like Madan Lal Khurana and Uma Bharati have frontally challenged him, his stances on various issues have been openly contradicted by others. If L.K. Advani is to emerge as a credible choice for the future prime-ministership of the country, he must today be allowed to spearhead a credible Opposition unhindered.
