Nagpur:
Corruption charges against BJP president Nitin Gadkari have hurtled him into a political quagmire, but he returned to Nagpur today to a huge show of support. Around 2000 people greeted him at the airport with garlands and dance. He left the airport waving to the crowd through the sunroof of his car.
Mr Gadkari arrived in his home town after campaigning for his party in Himachal Pradesh, which votes next month. His presence there was endorsed by the BJP in an emergency meeting last week held to assess the impact on the party of the charges against Mr Gadkari.
Today, he told supporters that he will take those who've accused him of corruption to court. He added that he will seek exoneration in "the people's court," a hint that he may contest the general election in 2014.
An investigation by income tax officials and the Corporate Affairs Ministry is verifying charges that Mr Gadkari's expansive business empire is funded by ghost investors. He has denounced the allegations.
Last week, his party's top leaders met with him in Delhi. He reportedly shared his defence with them; they decided he should complete his term as president, which expires in December.
But a second term - that seemed to be certain till just a few weeks ago - now appears unlikely. In September, the BJP amended its rules to allow Mr Gadkari an extension in office. The party's ideological mentor, the RSS, was allegedly responsible for that deviation. It had also hand-picked him in 2009 to lead the BJP. But last week, the RSS appeared less confident of one of its favourites. The organisation has asked for "an impartial probe" into Mr Gadkari's business practices, and has also said it has "no connection" to a potential second term.
Mr Gadkari arrived in his home town after campaigning for his party in Himachal Pradesh, which votes next month. His presence there was endorsed by the BJP in an emergency meeting last week held to assess the impact on the party of the charges against Mr Gadkari.
Today, he told supporters that he will take those who've accused him of corruption to court. He added that he will seek exoneration in "the people's court," a hint that he may contest the general election in 2014.
An investigation by income tax officials and the Corporate Affairs Ministry is verifying charges that Mr Gadkari's expansive business empire is funded by ghost investors. He has denounced the allegations.
Last week, his party's top leaders met with him in Delhi. He reportedly shared his defence with them; they decided he should complete his term as president, which expires in December.
But a second term - that seemed to be certain till just a few weeks ago - now appears unlikely. In September, the BJP amended its rules to allow Mr Gadkari an extension in office. The party's ideological mentor, the RSS, was allegedly responsible for that deviation. It had also hand-picked him in 2009 to lead the BJP. But last week, the RSS appeared less confident of one of its favourites. The organisation has asked for "an impartial probe" into Mr Gadkari's business practices, and has also said it has "no connection" to a potential second term.
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