PM keeps Joshi on hold, he prays to HC for relief

Weighing the pros and cons, Vajpayee, it’s learnt, also wanted to have a word first with his deputy, L K Advani. But Advani and BJP president Venkaiah Naidu were not in town today. Sources said that if Vajpayee did not want to let go Joshi, he could make his decision known tomorrow.

But if he were to decide otherwise, he would wait to see what the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court does with Joshi’s appeal against the Rae Bareli ruling. A stay on the order would mean that there was no need for the PM to act immediately on Joshi’s decision to quit.

Through with his meeting with the PM, Joshi reached Lucknow to file his appeal in the High Court. Joshi, agencies reported, prayed that the special court’s order be set aside and its proceedings stayed. He contended that his case was similar to that of Advani who had been discharged by the court.

The petition is likely to come up for hearing tomorrow. Earlier, while emerging from the PM’s residence, Joshi told reporters that he had discussed all aspects, including the Rae Bareli order, with Vajpayee.

When he was asked if he was still adamant about quitting the government, he said: ‘‘I am awaiting his (Vajpayee’s) response.’’

Sources close to Joshi maintained he had stuck to his decision to quit. Yet they hastened to add that he would not be adamant if the PM were to ask him to continue in the government. Asked if Vajpayee told him to withdraw his resignation, Joshi said: ‘‘He (Vajpayee) said he is deliberating on what I told him.’’

Refusing to disclose what exactly transpired, he said, ‘‘This is between us. When the time comes, you will come to know.’’

Sources said that Joshi listed his grievances on the manner he was being treated by the party. He was upset that he had been sidelined from decision-making.

Meanwhile, Uma Bharati, who too will also be booked in the Babri demolition case, also met Vajpayee today.

She was accompanied by BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan and senior Madhya Pradesh leader Kailash Joshi. The meeting lasted 30 minutes.

Bharati later claimed she had come to invite Vajpayee to Bhopal for a rally on October 19. Responding to reporters’ queries, she said she had still not made up her mind on whether or not to go in appeal against the Rae Bareli order. But BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said earlier that she would appeal against the order.