Patna:
BJP president Nitin Gadkari was seen walking next to LK Advani this morning as the top rung of the BJP entered Rashtrapati Bhavan. Their mission was to meet President Pratibha Patil to formally complain about how the government dodged a vote on the anti-corruption Lokpal Bill late last month.
(Read: BJP top rung meets President to complain about Lokpal fiasco) Despite the Congress' denials, it's clear that the government avoided a vote because it was in a minority in the Rajya Sabha.
Though they walked shoulder-to-shoulder, Mr Gadkari and Mr Advani are reportedly not on the same page about the controversial entry of Babu Singh Kushwaha into the party. The admission was reportedly sanctioned by the BJP president against Mr Advani's wishes. During his term as a minister in Mayawati's government in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Kushwaha presided over a department that was riddled with subterfuge and corruption. Three senior doctors attached to the department died during Mr Kushwaha's term as Minister for Family Welfare - two of them were murdered, one died in jail under suspicious circumstances. Mr Kushwaha is an OBC leader and the BJP wanted to exploit his appeal.
But the BJP's acceptance of the former minister at a time when it's attacking the Congress for being soft on corruption leaves the party wide open to charges of hypocrisy. The Congress has wasted no time in underscoring the BJP's double standards.
(Read: Congratulate Advani, says caustic Congress as tainted leader joins BJP) But today, criticism came from a close ally - Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who runs his government in partnership with the BJP. "This is not a correct step...it's not a healthy trend," said Mr Kumar.
In damage control mode, Kirti Azad of the BJP said this morning, "if any mistakes have been made, they will be corrected." Yesterday, the party said that Mr Kushwaha will not contest the elections in UP or be deployed as a star campaigner.
That has not placated its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh or RSS. An editorial in its Hindi publication "Panchajanya" urges voters in Uttar Pradesh not to elect candidates who have criminal cases against them or have a record of changing their parties frequently.
(Read)