145;It146;s settled, no post for Rahul146;

Atal Bihari Vajpayee8217;s sympathy for Rahul Mahajan notwithstanding, the BJP leadership has made up its mind not to give him any post.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee8217;s sympathy for Rahul Mahajan notwithstanding, the BJP leadership has made up its mind not to give him any post. Sources in the party told The Indian Express: 8216;8216;The issue is settled, no post for Rahul, not after the recent developments.8217;8217;

8216;8216;Who can even dare think of a party position for him after the drug stigma?8217;8217; a senior leader responded with a counter-question when asked if a rethink was possible. He said the issue had far-reaching implications and a national political party could not afford being guided by just emotions.

The sources said Vajpayee8217;s remarks 8212; 8216;8216;such mistakes happen in young age8217;8217; and 8216;8216;chances of such mistakes are possible when you fall in bad company8217;8217; 8212; reflected the magnanimity of an elder for a young member of the family who had gone astray. 8216;8216;That is how elders are, humane, magnanimous and understanding; and that is how any elder in a family would react when faced with such a situation,8217;8217; the sources added. 8216;8216;But,8217;8217; the sources said, 8216;8216;we have taken a well thought-out decision not to get Rahul into the party. There is no going back on it.8217;8217;

Even before the drug scandal surfaced, several Maharahstra BJP leaders, including state president Nitin Gadkari, had advised the high command not to promote Rahul after Pramod Mahajan8217;s murder. However, Rahul was still able to push his case with senior leaders here due to help from his late father8217;s aides and media attention.

But after the happenings late last week, a political career now seems far beyond Rahul8217;s grasp.

Mistakes happen in youth: Atal

MANALI: 8220;Such mistakes happen in young age.8221; This was the comment of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the Rahul Mahajan drugs abuse case. 8220;Chances of such mistakes are possible when you fall in bad company and that is what happened to Rahul,8221; Vajpayee told reporters after a party meeting here. Asked whether the episode had tarnished the image of BJP which was planning to give some responsibility to Rahul, Vajpayee replied in the negative. 8220;We will try to find the truth first,8221; he said.