New Delhi: The BJP's crucial national executive passed off peacefully on Saturday but did little to resolve the serious differences among senior leaders. Party president Rajnath Singh's gag order silenced the leaders but not the unrest in the BJP.
The national executive now awaits an inevitable battle between those who want people to be held accountable for the poll defeat and those who are avoiding it.
Rajnath tried but couldn't stop Arun Shourie and Jaswant Singh. Jaswant declared he will never contest elections again. "Jaswant said that he may not want to contest again," said party leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy.
Arun Shourie demanded a review of performance and leadership. Without naming him, he attacked Arun Jaitley for skipping the meet.
We are trying a review since 2004, said senior leader Murli Manohar Joshi.
With factionalism brewing the party president decided to take the lead by taking responsibility for the loss.
"Rajnath said that if one person has to take responsibility, then, I as president do it," said party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.
But to keep the RSS with him, Rajnath made it clear that the BJP will stay with Hindutva.
So on day one of its conclave, the BJP brass managed to avoid fireworks - but the unrest and disarray continues.