BJP veterans revolt, hit out at leadership

We need to find out what went wrong, who were responsible.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "undignified" language during the Bihar campaign was responsible for the party's electoral debate, a BJP parliamentarian from the state said on November the 10th, joining a growing list of local leaders who have blamed the defeat on the national leadership.

Battling a virtual revolt from within after its Bihar defeat, the ruling BJP today said none of the criticism by party veterans had been directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A number of BJP MPs from Bihar have spoken out against the top party brass and faulted their campaign for raking up controversial issues and using "undignified" language.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also against any action against dissenters.

Noting that Advani has immensely contributed to the growth and expansion of the BJP, Venkaiah said "he has been instrumental in turning monopoly politics in India led by the Congress into a bipolar one shared between the Congress and BJP".

The retort, swift as well as sharp, came from a source close to one of the four elders: "When the seniors are never ever invited to any of the BJP forums... where do you think they can articulate their views?" Some of his colleagues, however, have not been equally kind to the veterans. "It would have been higher if these points have been raised within the party discussion board quite than in public, however we take it significantly however", stated Naidu.

Former party president Nitin Gadkari rallied behind Mr. Modi and BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday. The Union transport minister demanded "stringent" action against "those making irresponsible statements and causing damage to the party's image".

"Unfortunately for the mutineers, they are now marginalized within the party".

In their letter, the three senior leaders and former presidents insisted that the party practiced collective accountability when the party suffered a defeat under the Advani-Vajpayee leadership.

Speaking at the birth anniversary celebrations of rural activist Nanaji Deshmukh, Shah said, "Nanaji Deshmukh set an example that leaders who are 60 years-old and above must quit politics and do social work".