Letters: Grave crisis, weak leaders

As Aditi Phadnis points out in “Lotus eaters of the BJP” (July 7), the Bharatiya Janata Party is gravely fractured because of infighting in almost all states. Besides, it has some strong-headed chief ministers who have their own political agenda. In such a situation, it needed a party president with a national image and broad experience. Instead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), much like the Congress high command, installed a staunch loyalist who showed little evidence of organising abilities. During his presidentship, Nitin Gadkari has shown no signs of strategic thinking or persuasive powers. His manoeuvres in UP elections – induction of Uma Bharati, using tainted politicians, bringing in Sanjay Joshi and ignoring young state leaders – came a cropper. He had to bow to the dictates of Narendra Modi to appease him and is now dancing to the tunes of B S Yeddyurappa in Karnataka, unmindful of opposition from seasoned leaders of his party. After cutting veteran L K Advani to size, RSS is now banking on Gadkari again to strategise 2014 elections even as capable leaders like Varun Gandhi and Sushma Swaraj wait in the wings. Who can help a party stung by a suicide wish? Not even the Congress party whose fortunes are also on the decline!

Y G Chouksey Pune

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