New Delhi:
BJP leader Ram Jethmalani , who front-lined the revolt demanding the removal of the party's president, says he's now willing to hear the other side of the story.
This morning, Mr Jethmalani, eminent lawyer and BJP parliamentarian, was categorical that Nitin Gadkari 's removal is "urgently called for."
By this evening, after a meeting with S Gurumurthy, a leader from the BJP's parent body, the RSS, Mr Jethmalani said he was open to being convinced that Mr Gadkari should not be fired as president despite the corruption charges engulfing him.
Mr Gurumurthy allegedly shared with Mr Jethmalani the defense that Mr Gadkari has offered to the RSS in a rebuttal of grave corruption charges. Sources say that Mr Gurumurthy has told senior BJP leaders that Mr Gadkari's version of events is effective enough to negate any calls to abort his term as president - it expires in December.
Mr Jethmalani said that he respects the opinion of Mr Gurumurthy, who has assured him that Mr Gakdari will be made to answer some tough questions about his company's financial track record. The lawyer has also been assured that he will be given the documents Mr Gadkari cites in his defense.
Tonight, senior BJP leaders are likely to announce that they continue to stand by their president. That's a stand fashioned partly by pressure from the RSS, and largely by internal calculations over who would replace Mr Gadkari if he were removed. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is a front-runner, a position that many other A-listers in the party would like to change.
The call for Mr Gadkari' removal seemed to be supported today by BJP stalwart Yashwant Sinha, who said he agreed with the sentiments expressed in a letter by Mr Jethmalani in which he warned of disastrous consequences for the BJP if Mr Gadkari is allowed to remain in office.
Mr Sinha said he did not, however, support Mr Jethmalani's methodology, which has centred on a strong public attack on Mr Gadkari. Mr Jethmalani is seen as close to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, who has shared a fractious relationship with Mr Gadkari while angling for a move to the party's national stage.
In his letter sent on November 2 to BJP veteran LK Advani, Mr Jethmalani wrote that Mr Sinha, Jaswant Singh and Shatrughan Sinha are considering quitting the party with him if Mr Gadkari is not fired.
"All four of us met last night to consider whether we should bid goodbye to the party," he warned.
(Read entire letter here)Explaining that the charges against Mr Gadkari are hurting the party, Mr Jethmalani wrote," The damage already caused is immense but may be mitigated with great effort. He must be asked to resign forthwith. If we wait till Parliament is summoned, we will have betrayed the nation. History will not forgive us."