: Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari has told NDTV that he is not interested in heading an election committee for his party, an offer made by his senior colleague, LK Advani.
Mr Gadkari said he wants to focus his time and energy on contesting the Lok Sabha seat from his home town of Nagpur. He also clarified, "I don't want any controversy."
That emphasis refers to the strife within the BJP that is epicentred around the status of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is repeatedly being described by the party as its "most popular leader."
The label doesn't sit well with Mr Advani, 85, who is heading a group that's opposed to Mr Modi's promotion to a national-level leader of the BJP and to being projected as the face of the party for the national elections, due in May 2014.
To check the chief minister's increasing prominence, Mr Advani had suggested that Mr Gadkari be picked as the leader of a committee that will handle election strategy. But it's Mr Modi who deserves that position, according to the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS.
So as a compromise, Mr Advani has suggested to party president Rajnath Singh that two committees be created - one for the national elections, headed by Mr Modi, and another for the elections due in important states over the next few months, which would be fronted by Mr Gadkari.
Mr Advani wants the two committees to be announced simultaneously when the BJP's party workers' convention will be held in Goa this weekend, a move that would convey Mr Modi is one of a group of senior leaders, rather than its top man.
Mr Advani's offer to Mr Gadkari comes after he led a campaign for his resignation amid charges of corruption against him. Mr Advani was among those who campaigned most forcefully for Mr Gadkari to be removed last year when a vast business empire he set up was accused of financial malfeasance.
Mr Gadkari said he wants to focus his time and energy on contesting the Lok Sabha seat from his home town of Nagpur. He also clarified, "I don't want any controversy."
That emphasis refers to the strife within the BJP that is epicentred around the status of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is repeatedly being described by the party as its "most popular leader."
To check the chief minister's increasing prominence, Mr Advani had suggested that Mr Gadkari be picked as the leader of a committee that will handle election strategy. But it's Mr Modi who deserves that position, according to the BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS.
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Mr Advani wants the two committees to be announced simultaneously when the BJP's party workers' convention will be held in Goa this weekend, a move that would convey Mr Modi is one of a group of senior leaders, rather than its top man.
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