BJP leaders LK Advani, MM Joshi revolt against Narendra Modi

Former deputy prime minister L.K. Advani, ex party president Murli Manohar Joshi and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha released a statement late on Tuesday questioning the direction of the party after the defeat, which risk embarrassing Modi just ahead of a visit to Britain this week. "They have said things against the strategy, but not against Modi", union minister Venkaiah Naidu said. "A review should be done of the election debacle", he said.

RK Singh did not campaign for the party during the assembly election after the BJP leadership overlooked his objections to fielding candidates with criminal antecedents.

Modi is facing a revolt within his party, with senior leaders questioning his leadership style after the party's debacle in recent elections in Bihar.

"It would be unjust to hold any individual responsible for the poll defeat. We are a cadre-based party and not ruled by one family", he added.

A number of Bihar BJP MPs like Shatrughan Sinha, Hukumdev Narayan Yadav and Bhola Singh have criticized the party's campaign with the likes of Sinha and Singh drawing the top party brass in their line of fire. The senior leaders have been sidelined, there is supremacy of only one man, i.e. Narendra Modi ji. "When the party faces defeat, everyone talks of a review. But when it wins, nobody demands an analysis", he said.

"A section of leaders in the party is in support of these veterans".

Nobody expected such a disastrous defeat for the prime minister's party. He felt that post-Bihar polls, parties opposed to NDA may try to come together.

Sanjay Kumar, director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, said, the Bihar electoral defeat will increase the noise level within the BJP and impact intraparty politics. However, the clear advantage with Shah is that he is close to Modi, who in turn is indispensable for the party at the moment.

The party will discuss this matter on various other forums, including with senior leaders and attempt to overcome the shortcomings that led to the adverse verdict in Bihar, " said the BJP in a statement, which was issued immediately after party veterans made the stinging statement. After all, Shah had got BJP 71 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh in last year's general elections. Sources said union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and former Delhi mayor Arti Mehra were also present at Advani's residence when Sinha reached there. At the same time, the BJP would refrain from taking a combative tone towards the party elders and would avoid ruffling feathers further, sources said.