New Delhi:
There was a surprise that awaited the new office bearers of the BJP at their first meeting today. Party patriarch LK Advani broke tradition when asked to speak and said, No. Publicly.
Advani has always spoken at such occasions. So at the end of the meeting, party chief Nitin Gadkari requested him to address the office bearers, but he refused. Party sources say he did so because he is miffed at being slowly edged out.
At a recent function to mark the party's founding day, the senior BJP leader was invited at the last minute so he stayed away.
Advani's public sulk was not the only surprise though for the new team. Gadkari also announced a test for them, making clear the work has not ended but only begun with being picked for a post.
Gadkari has set up a three-member team that will prepare questionnaires, which will be given to office bearers to answer. This will be part of the performance audit of the office bearers.