New Delhi:
In a clumsy attempt at course-correction, the BJP has now said it will not support Anshuman Mishra, a businessman and an Independent candidate for the Rajya Sabha from Jharkhand. The reversal comes after senior party leaders made clear that support to Mr Mishra was not acceptable to them. Mr Mishra did not help his cause by criticising senior party leaders.
BJP leader Ananth Kumar said today that the party had "decided that MLAs of Jharkhand won't participate in voting for these Rajya Sabha elections...they will abstain." He also said he "condemned the words Mr Mishra had used for senior BJP leaders."
Party leaders Yashwant Sinha, Sushma Swaraj and SS Ahluwalia are meeting in Delhi right now to discuss their strategy in case Mr Mishra does not withdraw his nomination. The NRI businessman seems to have dug in his heels saying he has not been requested to withdraw by anyone, including the BJP or its parent body, the RSS, yet. The BJP finds itself in an embarrassing position because the decision to support Mr Mishra's candidacy was reportedly taken by party president Nitin Gadkari and six Jharkhand MLAs signed his nomination papers. It upset most other senior leaders, especially Yashwant Sinha, who vocally decried the move. But the RSS today firmly backed Mr Sinha and other senior leaders, saying that the decision to support Mr Mishra was incorrect. It also added that supporting him would hurt the BJP and Sangh Parivar's anti-corruption campaign, something that senior leaders have expressed concern about.
Mr Mishra has lashed out at Mr Sinha saying, "I am actively considering withdrawing, but I won't take any decision based on what Yashwant Sinha has to say. If senior leaders of the party, Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj or the party president ask me to step down, I will be more than happy to do so." He later said, "I am 37 year old... I just want to serve my nation, as I am young...I will not fight the election on the basis of money...There are some leaders of the BJP who are aged, they should retire now...I will fight for the Rajya Sabha elections."
In his opposition to Mr Mishra, Mr Sinha had support from others like LK Advani who said that rather than have Mr Mishra elected, they would ask the BJP's representatives in the Jharkhand Assembly to vote against him, which means the party would have defeated its own candidate
Many eyebrows were raised when Anshuman Mishra filed nomination for the Rajya Sabha as an Independent candidate with the BJP MLAs, including Jharkhand ministers, endorsing his nomination. Mr Mishra's background and integrity have been questioned by senior leaders, who have targeted Mr Gadkari for his selection
Mr Sinha told NDTV that his party's support to Mr Mishra would only add to Jharkhand's image as "happy hunting ground for the rich" implying that BJP MLAs could be tempted to sell their vote to the rich businessman. In strong words Mr Sinha said, "Our MLAs should not be auctioned...there are ways for our MLAs to avoid voting for him."
Mr Sinha also reportedly warned his party that the selection of unsuitable nominees makes it tough for him to serve on different parliamentary committees; choosing representatives who have questionable records, he said, will impact the BJP's image and anti-corruption plank. At a meeting of the party leadership, another senior leader Shanta Kumar warned, "
Jab satta bikne lagti hai to samapt ho jaati hai" - a warning that translates as "When power is on sale, the end is near."