Joshi gets a stay, also gets to stay

It was then for the others to do their bit for the all-is-well-with-the party show: Advani spoke to Joshi and greeted him, BJP president Venkaiah Naidu called up Vajpayee to say it was the party view that nobody should quit over the Rae Bareli order.

And then Joshi stepped out to tell reporters that he had accepted the decision of the Prime Minister with ‘‘humility.’’ Switching to the party line that the case is ‘‘politically motivated and does not involve issues of moral turpitude,’’ he announced: ‘‘I will go to office tomorrow.’’

While Joshi ducked questions about not receiving enough attention from senior BJP leaders, it was increasingly evident that the whole episode had only deepened the divide between Advani and him. To top it, Joshi’s isolation and Advani’s strong hold over the party was there for all to see.

Most party leaders shunned Joshi after he had faxed his resignation to Vajpayee who was abroad when the Rae Bareli court made its decision known on September 19. While Advani was discharged, the court ordered that charges be framed against Joshi and the others.

The stay against the Rae Bareli proceedings in Joshi’s case has prompted others to think aloud. ‘‘We have advised Uma Bharati and Vinay Katiyar to go in appeal to the High Court against the special court decision to frame charges against them. I am confident that all our people will be discharged,’’ said Venkaiah Naidu. Uma Bharati met him at the party headquarters today.

VHP working president Ashok Singhal said all Parishad leaders would challenge the special court order.