This Article is From Mar 20, 2012

Senior BJP leaders revolt over Rajya Sabha candidates, target Gadkari

Senior BJP leaders revolt over Rajya Sabha candidates, target Gadkari
New Delhi: Just when the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) was considering a second term as party president for Nitin Gadkari, a series of troubles within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seem to be threatening his prospects. After Karnataka strongman BS Yeddyurappa's revolt over chief ministership of Karnataka, Mr Gadkari now also has to deal with objections raised by senior party leaders in Delhi over the nominations for Rajya Sabha.

NDTV has learnt that party top brass, including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Murli Manohar Joshi, have lodged strong protests over the choice of candidates - some of them with dubious credentials - fielded for the seats to the Upper House. Their reservations were reportedly made known to Mr Gadkari at the party's parliamentary board meeting on March 16.

However, on record, party spokesperson Prakash Javadekar has denied the talk of any dissent, saying "there is no question of anyone being unhappy within the party."

While Mr Advani and other leaders are said to have conveyed their strong objections, Yashwant Sinha, a former Finance Minister, had some strong words for the recent nominations. He reportedly said that it would be difficult for him to execute his duties in Parliament if tainted candidates from outside the party were supported by the BJP to contest Rajya Sabha seats. Mr Sinha is particularly upset with the BJP's support to Anshuman Mishra, an independent candidate from Jharkhand.

Sources say that these choices, especially that of Mr Mishra, were backed by Mr Gadkari. There is more resentment over the denial of a ticket to veteran leader, and BJP's deputy leader in Rajya Sabha, S S Ahluwalia.

While some top leaders want the controversial nominations to be withdrawn - others argue that a withdrawal will mean the party losing seats.

The fresh headache for the BJP comes even as it is battling a rebellion in Karnataka. 67 of the party's 120 MLAs are demanding the reinstatement of B S Yeddyurappa as chief minister of the state. In a show of loyalty, the MLAs are currently camping in a five-star resort outside Bangalore. Almost all of them have boycotted the budget session in the state assembly today.

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