National

The Under Cut

It was supposed to be Advani's moment, till the letter dropped

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The Under Cut
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BJP leaders wave in unison for the cameras at the conclave

That means the RSS plans to allow the BJP to slug it out. Perhaps why in the weeks preceding the national executive, two senior leaders are believed to have called on president Rajnath Singh to try and persuade him to make "a gesture" towards Advani in Bhopal. But it was in vain as the pracharaks in the BJP, many of whom were brought in by Rajnath and given influential posts, are reluctant to relinquish power. It is due to their support that Rajnath did not wilt in the face of what appeared to be an orchestrated media campaign in support of Advani.

Whether he carried all sections or not, there is a high probability that Advani would have simply taken charge and filled the leadership vacuum on the eve of what appears to be another general election. After all, Rajnath is no match for him, in terms of stature or intellect. But again, Advani had not factored in the one man who has always got the better of him—Vajpayee, who will complete 83 on December 25 this year.

Again, it was a letter from Vajpayee— sent to the first party executive that he hasn't attended—that tripped Advani. The letter, read out to executive members by Rajnath and later released to the press, was written in typical Vajpayee style Hindi, open to many interpretations. But there was one message that couldn't be missed, the ex-PM expressing his regret that medical advice had forced him to stay away from Bhopal. "I am getting better. Soon I will be able to come amidst you. We cannot turn away from the responsibilities of the nation. "

Vajpayee was making it clear that as long as he was there no one else could claim to lead the party. He still remained the supreme symbol, the party's most acceptable face. But the Atal missive did not put the lid on the matter. Even Advani's concluding speech, where he declared he was happy to hear that Atalji was getting better and would soon be back, did not cap the controversy.

Soon a section of the party's rumour mills began to spread the word that the Vajpayee letter was a forgery, cleverly managed by Rajnath in connivance with people close to the ex-PM. Although written on Vajpayee's letterhead, it was not signed, which led to active suggestions that he wasn't even in a state to sign a letter. It was suggested that Vajpayee was virtually comatose, incoherent. That people had started to act in his name.

But sources close to Vajpayee told Outlook there was no question of anyone acting on his behalf. The letter had been written in his own hand and then sent for typing. Yes, he wasn't in the best shape and several hours went in physio-therapy for the old knee problem. He did not venture out much as he did not want to be publicly seen in a wheelchair. But he was mentally as alert as ever.

Still, as a senior leader put it, "Atalji is getting on in years. We presumed he had retired while Advaniji remains very fit." True, Advani has the stride of a much younger man. As leader of the opposition he remains very active, is a relentless campaigner and is arguably made of much sterner stuff than many younger leaders, as witnessed in his long drawn battle of attrition with the RSS. Yet, there are times when it appears that Advani has lost the art of political timing.

Vajpayee has always been the old fox in the pen. Since Lord Ram is the flavour of the season again, one can presume if he wills it Vajpayee will put his slippers on the throne while Advani like Bharat steps aside. But the question is: which throne is all the fuss about? Clearly, the two veterans are still hankering for a lost kingdom. As things stand right now, they may never reclaim it. But if the chances of a good performance increase, then Vajpayee will be interested. If it's a lost cause, then he will probably make the generous gesture, anoint Advani the leader. But the story has other twists. Even the RSS today doesn't know what it expects of the BJP's tier-II leaders. Even as the party prepares for electoral battle, the battles within will continue.

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