Advani's resignation shocks Chhattisgarh BJP

BJP leader L.K. Advani's decision Monday to resign from all posts of the party came as a shocker for leaders in BJP-ruled Chhattisgarh with most of them calling it "highly unfortunate".

Except for state BJP president Ramsevak Paikra - who released a brief statement over the stalemate - a majority of senior state level leaders refused to comment openly. However, they admitted in private that Advani's resignation was "a great sudden crisis which could have serious repercussions in the state which goes to polls by November".

In his statement, Paikra said: "I am hopeful that Advani-ji will take back his resignations in the larger interests of the party."

"He (Advani) is the senior-most leader in the BJP and the guardian of all of us. I am sure the central leadership of the party will be able to persuade him to take back his resignations... and be able to get over the present crisis soon," Paikra said.

The district unit chiefs of the BJP and state executive body members admitted that they were shocked by Advani's move.

"It is a crisis time. Party cadres never thought such a stunning decision by Advani-ji. He was always a source of inspiration for lakhs of party cadres. The crisis has the potential to damage the party's poll prospects in the assembly polls due later this year in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Chhattisgarh," a BJP leader told IANS on the condition of anonymity.