New Delhi, Jun 11: Advani's resignation has, in one sense, poured cold water over the euphoria that was generated among the rank and file of BJP after the anointment of Narendra Modi as the chairman of ‘election campaign committee' for 2014 general elections. But the moot question is –why did Advani do this? Should a leader who is seen as the ‘patriarch' wash his party's dirty linen in public?
Now the entire world knows that Advani resigned because he was not in favour of handing over the entire responsibility of steering BJP's election campaign to Modi. Advani tried his best to scuttle the ascendance of Modi in the party hierarchy, but the party bowed to the tremendous pressure from the party cadres and did not pay any heed to Advani's reservations.
Rajnath Singh, BJP president, made a very remarkable statement at the Goa meet of BJP. He said that handing over the leadership baton to Modi was something that justice demanded. He went on to add that only a person who commands the popularity amongst the cadre has the legitimate right to become the leader. He was obviously referring to the overwhelming preference for Modi that was evident among BJP rank and file.
Every leader of BJP is aware of the fact that party's rank and file wants Modi , and nobody else, to be the party's face in 2014 elections. Under these circumstances, the decision of Rajnath Singh to elevate Modi was completely in tune with the party worker's aspirations and expectations.
