L K Advani will play a role well beyond the specially-created position of Chairman of BJP Parliamentary party, according to the new party President Nitin Gadkari who made it clear that the 82-year-old veteran will be a "permanent guide and philosopher" for the whole party.
"Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani are our role models and source of inspiration.....Advaniji will be permanent guide and philosopher for the whole party," Gadkari told PTI in an interview.
He was responding when asked whether Advani's role would be limited to BJP's Parliamentary affairs after his appointment to the newly-created post of Chairman of Parliamentary Party.
Advani quit the post of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha on December 18 in the face of attacks from within following the party's dismal performance in the general elections. He was made the Chairman of Parliamentary Party, a move that gave an impression that his role would be confined to Parliamentary affairs of the party.
52-year-old Gadkari, who is a new-comer at the national scene, does not see it as a disadvantage but feels it is an "asset" as he would not be "biased".
Gadkari, whose appointment on December 18 came at a time when the party is going through a bad phase, said some corrective measures were needed and he would bring out a blueprint in this regard within three months.
Gadkari, a management graduate who has the challenging task of reviving the party that has been going through bad phase and has been afflicted by infighting, said his remedial mantra was that leaders should speak less to media.
He said most of the problems plaguing BJP were due to unnecessary talking by some leaders, both on-the-record and off-the-record and this needs to be stopped.
Kam bolna, nahi bolna (speaking less, not speaking). This is the exact medicine my party needs. It will take care of 90 per cent of our problems," the new BJP chief said.
Gadkari said he would enforce discipline in the party along with mutual trust and would soon come out with detailed plans for the organisation and a political strategy to expand its base as also broaden the NDA.
Some senior leaders have been leaking details of internal confabulations as well as communications to press and taking pot-shots at their colleagues through the media.
Gadkari does not want to talk about events that happened in the party before he took over its reins. "Choro kal ki baatein, kal ki baat purani (let bygones by bygones)," he said reciting the famous song of 'Hum Hindustani' movie and added that he wanted to work for a bright future for the party.
The BJP chief said he would lay thrust on "performance audit" for the leaders who would be given responsibilities to revive the party and expand its base among various castes and communities and regions.
His aim is to increase the party's vote-share by 10 per cent and expand its reach to the south, West Bengal and Haryana. PTI
