Superstar Modi takes over BJP executive meet

What Narendra Modi wants Narendra Modi gets The lsquoGujarat ka sherrsquo mdash monikered lsquoHindustan ka sherrsquo by many party workers yesterday mdash was roaring regally at BJPrsquos national executive meeting here Several leaders are also believed to have unofficially accepted him as the PM candidate for the party It wouldnrsquot be an exaggeration to state that Modi hijacked the entire event even after arriving nearly six hours late at the YB Chavan Centre near Nariman Point Mobbed Modi arrives at Y B u00a0Chavan Auditorium for the national executive meet PicSandeep Mahankal The day began on a triumphant note for the Gujarat CM as the resignation of his becircte noire Sanjay Joshi mdash the RSS strongman and at one time Nitin Gadkarirsquos close aide mdash from the national executive was accepted by the party The first thing that BJP president Gadkari announced immediately afterwards was Modirsquos time of arrival for the national convention One thing that should be noted here is that Gadkari was the one who had appointed Joshi as election incharge of Uttar Pradesh Man of the moment Narendra Modi arrives at the partyrsquos national executive meeting at the Y B Chavan Centre yesterday PicBipin Kokate lsquoFor us hersquos the PMrsquo Meanwhile party workers at YB Chavan Centre couldnrsquot hide their happiness Modi arrived at the convention hall around 430 pm Immediately prior to this there was a tussle amongst supporters on whether to stick to their old slogan lsquoGujarat ka sherrsquo or the new one lsquoHindustan ka sherrsquo The moment Modi stepped out of the car cries of lsquoaaya aaya Hindustan ka sher aayarsquo reverberated Many senior leaders were also seen lending voice to the watchword A leader from the partyrsquos womenrsquos wing even said ldquoFor us hersquos already the prime ministerrdquo Before Modi could enter the hall most top leaders had already made a beeline to greet the threetime chief minister who didnrsquot let go of even a single moment to prove to the whole world that hersquos the tallest leader in the party today People like Jaywantiben Mehta Gopinath Munde Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and almost every MLA from Mumbai were present at the gates to welcome Modi Power play ldquoThe way people from the party are going crazy just to be close to him and be seen with him while entering the hall is a clear indication of what Modirsquos power today in the party is This particular move of his getting Joshi to resign has showed that hersquos the only PM candidate in the partyrdquo said a senior BJP functionary While for the common cadre Joshirsquos sudden exit would have come as a shock and many didnrsquot even hide their anger venting it on social networking sites too A senior RSS leader said ldquoThe definition of such ego and arrogance is seen different in the context of politics This condescension and posture is seen as a sign of the strength and power the person wields Modi has only shown who or what he is for the partyrdquo It is also said that Gadkari had no option but to bow down to Modirsquos demands Gadkari who is facing opposition from many party stalwarts while seeking another term at the helm needed a strong man by his side ldquoWhile Joshi and Gadkari had long shared a close relationship at such a juncture one has to make sacrifices Thatrsquos what Gadkari didrdquo said a leader The latest report from sources in the party was that former BJP president Rajnath Singh moved a proposal at the convention that every president mdash from the top of the party to the ward level mdash should be given two terms henceforth ldquoThe proposal has been passed and the official stamp on Gadkarirsquos name would be put at the national convention at Gujaratrdquo It seems Gadkari got instant benefits of the sacrifice made by him While the party president had something to rejoice by evening the events in the morning especially the fiasco at the convention after Joshirsquos resignation had left him morose Gadkari appeared forlorn the whole day Advani avoids Modi At one point in time Modi was seen as the blueeyed boy of senior party leader LK Advani However yesterday according to party sources the two avoided each other ldquoAfter Modirsquos arrival Advani preferred to stay in the greenroom and then left for his residence There was no contact or communication between themrdquo said a sourceu00a0