BJP sacks Raje loyalists

As BJP firefights on the Jinnah issue, there's another internal war and this one is with Vasundhara Raje in Rajasthan.

The party has suspended two senior members who are Ms Raje's supporters for indiscipline. The BJP wants her to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the state after the poor show in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

And now 52 MLAs have written to Vasundhara asking her to take steps to ensure that suspension of two MLAs is revoked.

Rajendra Singh Rathode, considered to be Raje's right hand man, and Gyan Dev Ahuja have been suspended for indiscipline.

Rathode was the one who led the revolt to Delhi when the BJP top brass asked Raje to step down as Leader of the Opposition in Rajasthan.

Earlier, after days of standoff, BJP president Rajnath Singh said he had asked Vasundhara Raje to quit as Rajasthan's Leaders of Opposition.

"The BJP Parliamentary Board believes that Vasundhara Raje will act on the positive statements she made and obey the party's decision. I have conveyed that decision to her. I have asked her to submit her resignation," Rajnath said on Sunday.

It was a strong signal from the BJP president that his word will be obeyed by former Rajasthan CM Vasundhra Raje.

It's also a message to Raje loyalists to fall in line.

But Rajnath set no deadline for Raje to quit -- perhaps allowing her more time.

The BJP disowns Jaswant Singh's book on Jinnah and suspends two Vasundhara Raje loyalists in Rajasthan.

Meanwhile, the BJP has again come down against one of its own senior leaders, Jaswant Singh for his book on Jinnah.

In his new book, Jaswant Singh praised Jinnah and questioned Sardar Patel's role in partition, a stand diametrically opposite to that of the BJP.

So, on Tuesday Rajnath Singh issued a statement criticizing Jaswant Singh:

"The book does not represent the views of the BJP. The party completely disassociates itself from its contents. Jinnah's role in the division of India which lead to a lot of dislocation and destabilisation of millions of people is to well known. We cannot wish away this painful part of our history. Sardar Patel played a historic role in the unification of India. The entire country remains indebted and proud of his vision, courage and leadership."