Munde to stay, but BJP’s troubles not over?

With Gopinath Munde announcing on Wednesday that he would stay with the party, the crisis within the BJP seems to have ended, at least for now

Munde to stay, but BJP's troubles not over?

With Gopinath Munde announcing on Wednesday that he would stay with the party, the crisis within the BJP seems to have ended, at least for now. But it appears certain that a faction in the BJP has stood against Munde's Maharashtra party colleague and his junior Nitin Gadkari.

Truce! Gopinath Munde with senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj afteru00a0
their meeting in New Delhi on Wednesday. Pic/Imtiyaz Khan

Now party president, Gadkari can breathe easy for the time being but Munde has proved his weight within the ranks with most of BJP stalwarts coming together to convince him not to take any drastic step. "Munde's decision to stay back is a personal setback of sorts for Gadkari. In fact, Gadkari wants Uma Bharati and Sanjay Joshi back but he does not share a good rapport with Munde," said a BJP leader requesting anonymity.

Party sources analyse the Munde-Gadkari week-long drama differently. "It may not be the differences of two individuals. Munde may be the face of dissenters and just challenged Gadkari, who seemed strong and confident after successfully re-inducting Uma Bharati despite the opposition from some senior leaders," added the leader.

Behind closed doors
Munde, who met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday at her official bungalow in New Delhi, said that reports of his quitting the party were incorrect. "I am in BJP. I will remain in BJP. News that I am quitting are wrong," Munde said, emerging from his meeting with Swaraj. He also added that he had put across 'grievances' of his supporters to the party top brass. He also said it was likely that he may meet other BJP leaders on the issue. Swaraj, who was present along with Munde said, "He has put his grievances at an appropriate place".

Munde denied having met Congress leader Ahmed Patel or talked to Maharshtra CM Prithviraj Chavan, and also refused to share his discussions with the BJP brass.Soon after, Swaraj met Advani to brief him about the progress, a turn of events seen as indicative of her central role in persuading Munde.

Swaraj also met Gadkari, after which she said the top brass of the BJP would meet on June 27 or 28 to discuss Munde's concerns. Later in the evening, Gadkari called Munde and told him that such controversies were not good for the party and that he would like to meet Munde personally in Mumbai to discuss the issues.

Munde wants more say in the BJP's Maharashtra affairs, and the party has till now sought to cap his rebellion. His supporters, however, say they are happy that he was heard out. A BJP leader said Munde had been assured the party would fight the Maharshtra LS and Vidhan Sabha polls under his guidance.

Status QUO
Meanwhile, Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh is believed to have been uneasy over allowing an alternative Congress power-centre in Marathwada. Sources also claimed the Congress wanted Munde to quit BJP before offering anything.