Mumbai:
The BJP has decided to move on.
After over six decades in Indian politics, LK Advani, the tallest leader of the BJP, finds himself completely isolated within his own party.
Sulking and upset over the elevation of Narendra Modi as the NDA's prime ministerial candidate, the 85-year-old leader refused to given in and stuck to his position, even deciding to skip the BJP's parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi where Mr Modi's anointment was formally decided.
Moments after Mr Modi was anointed in the national capital, Mr Advani's letter to party president Rajnath Singh was released in which he said he was "anguished" by how president Rajnath Singh is running the party.
But for the man who famously took his party from two seats in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections to 88 seats in 1989, this is exactly a repeat of what happened in Goa this June. Mr Advani had opposed the Gujarat Chief Minister's promotion as the head of the party's election committee, refusing to go to Goa stating that he was unwell.
But the BJP sidelined him and went ahead with their decision, following which Mr Advani wrote a stinging letter to Mr Singh and publicly exposed the divisions within the family.
This wasn't the first time. In 2005, Mr Advani had resigned after there was widespread criticism - including from the RSS - after he praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, describing him as a "secular" leader.
"Mr Advani has embarrassed himself. He has every right to be ambitious and want to be the prime minister but it has been unrequited. He should have seen the writing on the wall. He is living in an unreal world," senior journalist Ashok Malik explained.
But is this the end of the Advani era? While the BJP describes him as their "Bheeshma Pitamah" or mentor, few analysts suggest there is still a small window for his revival. "He has played his cards well by staying aloof. He sends a signal to all potential allies of the NDA that "don't worry, I am still there,"" senior political commentator Dileep Padgaonkar said.
But a few, like Sudheendra Kulkarni, former BJP member and close aide of Mr Advani, believes the BJP veteran took the right decision. "His political career may have come to an end, but Mr Advani has done a service to the nation. History will show that it was a wrong choice."
After over six decades in Indian politics, LK Advani, the tallest leader of the BJP, finds himself completely isolated within his own party.
Sulking and upset over the elevation of Narendra Modi as the NDA's prime ministerial candidate, the 85-year-old leader refused to given in and stuck to his position, even deciding to skip the BJP's parliamentary board meeting in New Delhi where Mr Modi's anointment was formally decided.
Moments after Mr Modi was anointed in the national capital, Mr Advani's letter to party president Rajnath Singh was released in which he said he was "anguished" by how president Rajnath Singh is running the party.
But for the man who famously took his party from two seats in the 1984 Lok Sabha elections to 88 seats in 1989, this is exactly a repeat of what happened in Goa this June. Mr Advani had opposed the Gujarat Chief Minister's promotion as the head of the party's election committee, refusing to go to Goa stating that he was unwell.
But the BJP sidelined him and went ahead with their decision, following which Mr Advani wrote a stinging letter to Mr Singh and publicly exposed the divisions within the family.
This wasn't the first time. In 2005, Mr Advani had resigned after there was widespread criticism - including from the RSS - after he praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, describing him as a "secular" leader.
"Mr Advani has embarrassed himself. He has every right to be ambitious and want to be the prime minister but it has been unrequited. He should have seen the writing on the wall. He is living in an unreal world," senior journalist Ashok Malik explained.
But is this the end of the Advani era? While the BJP describes him as their "Bheeshma Pitamah" or mentor, few analysts suggest there is still a small window for his revival. "He has played his cards well by staying aloof. He sends a signal to all potential allies of the NDA that "don't worry, I am still there,"" senior political commentator Dileep Padgaonkar said.
But a few, like Sudheendra Kulkarni, former BJP member and close aide of Mr Advani, believes the BJP veteran took the right decision. "His political career may have come to an end, but Mr Advani has done a service to the nation. History will show that it was a wrong choice."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
