New Delhi: For the BJP, the Lok Sabha results have been entirely unexpected and the worst showing of the party since 1991. Now which path will the party choose as it tries to re-establish itself is perhaps the biggest question.
Advani has already said he's had enough and wants to quit as Leader of the Opposition. The BJP is still trying to persuade him, but is he planning to retire from politics altogether?
"I certainly feel that a person should call it a day when he's hail and healthy," Advani had said when speaking to NDTV.
For the record, the party still wants him.
"Advani wanted somebody else elected and quit as the leader of the party. But we are still trying to persuade him," BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said. The thought was also seconded by party leader Arun Jaitley, who said Advani will continue to guide the party.
But not all issues will be as amicably resolved. Some say abandoning Hindutva was a mistake, others blame five years of confusion on identifying a winning issue. Most agree that Vajpayee's absence has hurt the party.
"In the earlier campaigns, Atalji used to be present and the campaign used to be effective. This time he was not there with us," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.
The focus is now on BJP's second rung. So, will the war over succession begin?
Some sections may push for Modi's elevation and a walk back to Hindutva. But this may threaten the NDA. Thus, it seems the BJP's real troubles have just begun.
The BJP can now discuss at leisure the reason it lost or why Advani couldn't be the PM. But the real question that confronts it is - which way to go as the Atal-Advani era seems to be coming to an end.
Advani has already said he's had enough and wants to quit as Leader of the Opposition. The BJP is still trying to persuade him, but is he planning to retire from politics altogether?
"I certainly feel that a person should call it a day when he's hail and healthy," Advani had said when speaking to NDTV.
"Advani wanted somebody else elected and quit as the leader of the party. But we are still trying to persuade him," BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu said. The thought was also seconded by party leader Arun Jaitley, who said Advani will continue to guide the party.
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"In the earlier campaigns, Atalji used to be present and the campaign used to be effective. This time he was not there with us," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.
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Some sections may push for Modi's elevation and a walk back to Hindutva. But this may threaten the NDA. Thus, it seems the BJP's real troubles have just begun.
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