Bjp Awaits Advani Fate In Hawala Case

The outcome is bound to have a significant bearing on whether Advani bounces back into electoral politics, just when Atal Behari Vajpayee's stature as the party's lone face in its election campaigns is continuing to grow.

Advani had resigned from the tenth Lok Sabha following the CBI charges against him in the hawala case, along with nine other politicians in January this year. He had vowed not to contest another election until he was absolved of the charges.

Both the CBI and Advani's counsel have completed their arguments on whether there are sufficient grounds for a trial. Final submissions were made on August 9. An order on whether the court will frame charges has been reserved. Since the usual period is 20 days, the order is expected by the month-end or by the first week of September.

The CBI is expected to go in appeal to the high court if the lower court finds no ground for trying Advani.

In that case, party leaders wonder if Advani would consider that he had been absolved of the charges and come back to electoral politics.

At least a section of the party would want to coax him to break his vow if the lower court absolved him.

The immediate fallout of that would be his candidature for the by-election from Gandhinagar, the seat Vajpayee resigned after winning it and Lucknow. Advani held the seat in the tenth house.