New Delhi: It's been another day of crisis for the BJP.
Talks between Vasundhara Raje Scindia and party president Rajnath Singh collapsed on Tuesday morning in Delhi, prompting Raje to return to Jaipur.
The BJP has been trying to end what's seen as a revolt in Rajasthan by Raje. The party wants her to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the state.
Raje had earlier publicly stated that she would obey orders, but in her meeting with Rajnath Singh, she laid out a series of conditions that he refused to meet. Among them, a guarantee that the party would not punish those who supported her, and a senior position for Raje within the party in Delhi.
In a show of defiance, Raje has rejected Rajnath Singh's request to cancel a meeting with her legislators in Jaipur on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Arun Shourie who attacked the party on Monday has responded to BJP's demand for clarification.
Shourie said he was willing to give clarification to the party on his remarks. Shourie said, "If there was any ambiguity in what I have said, I will clarify".
In an exclusive interview to NDTV on Monday, Shourie described Rajnath Singh as "Alice in Blunderland" and attacked Singh and other leaders.
The party first threatened to expel him, but now seems to be leaning towards a reconciliation. Rajnath Singh has asked Shourie to "explain his comments".
How that discussion would play out is confusing. After all, Shourie's remarks were pointed. But sources say that the BJP is worried that sacking Shourie will lead to new criticism.
Public and political opinion disagreed with how the BJP expelled Jaswant Singh, a senior leader and party member of 30 years.