Tame end to high drama

Victory for Modi as Advani withdraws resignation

• RSS chief placates BJP patriarch
• Main demand on Modi not accepted
• Major decisions will be taken only after discussing with him
• Advani absent at press conference

Anita Saluja New Delhi: The BJP turmoil caused by the resignation of the party patriarch L K Advani ended on Tuesday, with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat stepping in to placate the beleaguered leader, who was not at ease ever since Narendra Modi was declared as the Campaign Committee Chairman of the party.

Advani withdrew his resignation from the Central Parliamentary Board, Election Committee and National Executive of the party, after getting an assurance from Bhagwat that the Sangh Parivar would ensure that all decisions in the party are taken unanimously and only after consulting him. Advani, who was worried over the growing dominance of Modi and two RSS leaders � Suresh Soni and Ram Lal � has been assured by Bhagwat and Rajnath Singh that all the major decisions will be taken only after discussing with him.

Sources stated that the main demand of the Advani camp that Modi should not be declared as the BJP prime ministerial candidate before elections was not agreed to either by Rajnath Singh or by Bhagwat. The decision on who would be the BJP's face in the 2014 elections will be taken only at a later stage. Modi tweeted within 30 seconds of Advani's decision, "I had said yesterday that Advaniji will not disappoint lakhs of karyakartas.

Today, I whole-heartedly welcome this decision." With Advani giving in, it was a victory for Modi, who continues to be Chairman of the Campaign Committee. "It is not for us to declare, who will be the face of the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It will be the party workers, who will take the call," remarked a Modi supporter at the BJP headquarters, mocking at the demand put forth by the Advani camp. Advani, who has been sulking at Modi's elevation, has been isolated and sidelined, though Rajnath Singh has assured him that he will address all his concerns relating to the functioning of the party.

Tuesday was a day of hectic activity, with all senior leaders visiting Advani's residence from the morning to placate him. Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj, Uma Bharati, Jaswant Sinha, Balbir Punj, Prakash Javadekar, Nitin Gadkari and S Gurumurthy, besides others, met Advani to persuade him to withdraw his resignation. All of them impressed upon him to continue to guide the party and his advice was needed all the more when he, too, realized that the party was losing its direction. Advani's supporters were peeved that in his absence, they, too, would be ignored and lose their relevance. It was time to fight it out, instead of surrendering to the Modi-Rajnath camp.

Advani finally gave in when RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat called upon him and assured him that he will not let him down either by the party or by the RSS. He was given to understand that there will no interference from the Sangh Parivar and he will continue to hold the same respect as earlier, with all the decisions taken unanimously. At a joint press conference, where Advani was himself conspicuous by his absence, Rajnath Singh declared that Advani had withdrawn his resignation from all the three committees of the party.

With Advani giving in, Modi was ecstatic, going to the extent of coining the slogan for the party. "Ek Bharat, Shresht Bharat," (One India, Best India), he stated at a function in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar. Ironically, his own party is neither united nor the best, ridden with differences as never before.