New Delhi, June 15
The BJP appeared in two minds here today whether to hold its national executive meeting as scheduled on June 20 and 21 or postpone it for sometime.
Sources said the party was reviewing whether it would be feasible to postpone it at the last minute. On the other hand, there was also apprehension that postponing it at last minute might convey the impression that the party leadership was shying away from accountability.
A report said BJP deputy parliamentary party leader Sushma Swaraj hinted today in Bhopal at possible postponement while interacting with the mediapersons there. She also indicated the reason behind it, saying that the situation in the BJP was “volcanic which just needed a spark.”
Another senior BJP leader, when asked directly, did not rule out such a possibility. He, however, indicated that even if the schedule were observed many leaders might skip the meeting. Though he said the entire programme for the two-day meet had been finalised, printed and circulated.
BJP general secretary and now its leader in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley has already left for his annual sojourn abroad and will not be in town then, though greater part of the bickering in the BJP centres around his persona.
Similarly, BJP vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is set to sail to Kerala for planned annual family holiday. Sources said similarly many other leaders might also stay away from the national executive eagerly awaited by Advani-Jaitley baiters in the party.
Sensing the mood of the national executive members, the BJP leaders seemed weighing the consequences of waiting and allowing some cooling of tempers.
But in the meantime crisis in the high command is fast spreading to the states as well. Apart from national leaders like Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh, who have dissented against the party high command, several state leaders have raised a banner of revolt against their leaders in many BJP-ruled states.
Rebellion against respective state leaderships is brewing simultaneously in Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Haryana. Problems are there in its Punjab and Himachal Pradesh units as well, but these are comparatively minor.
In Karnataka, four ministers — Janardhan Reddy, his brother Karunakara Reddy, B Sreeramulu and KS Easwarappa — have together raised a banner of revolt and are seeking Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa’s head. From Uttarakhand, its former Chief Minister and claimant to the Chief Minister’s chair Bhagat Singh Koshiyari is in Delhi for the past four days, pressing the high command to remove Chief Minister BC Khanduri.
From Rajasthan, state BJP president OP Mathur has sent his resignation owning the responsibility for the BJP’s poor performance and was pressing the high command to replace legislative party leader Vasundhra Raje also.
There were reports of similar move by Haryana BJP chief Atma Prakash Manchanda responsible for aligning with the Om Prakash Chautala-led INLD, which ultimately resulted in the rout of the BJP in the state.
