This Article is From Jun 09, 2009

BJP irked by Kulkarni, but can't take action

BJP irked by Kulkarni, but can't take action

AFP image

New Delhi:

Though embarrassed by comments of Sudheendhra Kulkarni against the Sangh Parivar for the poll debacle, the BJP is in a fix as no action can be taken against him because he is not a party member.

Kulkarni had put Advani in an awkward situation when he wrote an article in a periodical indicting RSS for making him look "weak, helpless and not fully in command" during the recent Lok Sabha elections.

Sources said the RSS initially felt the article was written at the behest of Advani and even made enquiries.

"The top brass of the RSS called up Advani to discuss the issue. But Advani clarified that he had no knowledge about the article and did not concur with Kulkarni's views," an RSS leader said.

BJP had on Monday "totally dissociated" itself from Kulkarni's views.

"Kulkarni is not an office-bearer or even a member of BJP so no action can be taken against him. He was a BJP national secretary earlier but had to resign after the Jinnah episode in 2005," a BJP leader said, preferring anonymity.

Kulkarni had reportedly written a speech for Advani which led to the latter's resignation as party president as the RSS objected to his remarks.

It remains to be seen whether RSS would buy Advani's argument that he had nothing to do with Kulkarni's views in the article.

The timing of the article is also significant as it happened when both Mohan Bhagwat and Advani had reportedly decided to move on and work at toning up BJP. They held a one-on-one meeting a week back to discuss the reasons for the electoral drubbing.

RSS sources said Bhagwat had given Advani a free hand in taking decisions to refurbish the party.

Though relations between BJP and RSS top brass may be fine, there are fissures in some sections and Kulkarni's article may be a result of that.

RSS mouthpiece Organiser had criticised the BJP leadership for failing to pin-point the mistakes of the previous UPA government during the election campaign. It had also warned the party to keep away from those who wanted to reshape it as a "Congress B-team".

RSS ideologue M G Vaidya had stated recently that the absence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was felt during the elections.

Some feel Kulkarni's quip that Vajpayee had an Advani to support him but "Advani himself did not have an Advani" is in retaliation to Vaidya's statement.

Many in BJP feel that after this poll debacle, Kulkarni may distance himself from party activity. In the article, Kulkarni has taken some of the blame for the defeat.

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