VHP leader Pravin Togadia’s public address on Sunday has set the grapevine abuzz about a possible reconciliation between him and Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
“Bhai bhai mein, pati patni mein jhagde hote rehte hain to kya hain? Main aur Modi to bhai bhi nahin hain. Aur Khatai to chalta hi rahta hain (there will be feuds between brothers or even spouses, but so what? Modi and I aren’t even brothers. Relations do sour),” said Togadia, adding that ultimately theirs is one big family.
Modi and Togadia had fallen out long ago and their differences had surfaced strongly during the Municipal Corporation elections in late 2005. Togadia has not played any active role in the Gujarat politics ever since.
During the recent Assembly elections, Togadia had tried to raise an alternative Hindu front against Modi with the help of Uma Bharti, rebel MLAs and angry sadhus of the VHP. But he was reduced to a fringe player and did not address the public.
VHP leader Ashok Singhal had personally visited Gujarat and attempted a patch up between the party and the sadhus. Acharya Dharmendra, infamous for his inflamatory speeches during 2002, had held public meetings across the state to mobilise public support for the BJP, especially Modi.
But after the BJP’s spectacular victory, the warring sadhus did a complete volte-face and Mahanta Avichaldas actually went to bless Modi at the oath-taking ceremony. Party insiders maintain that pressure has been mounting on Togadia to strike peace with Modi. His vitriolic speeches may be utilised to whip up Hindutva sentiments across the state before the Lok Sabha elections.
“With the Amarnath Shrine Board and the bomb blast issues at hand, Hindutva and security are going to be two major issues in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” said a party insider.
With his eyes on Delhi, Modi has been working on an image makeover since long.
“As it is, Modi has good terms with Mohan Bhagwat and the Sangh. The VHP central leadership too has been backing him,” said the source.
He added: “With the General Elections nearing, the saffron brigade is in no mood to take chances in Gujarat this time; more so after the debacle of 2004. Togadia, in all probability, has been pushed into the arena with this aim in mind.”
Gujarat BJP president Parshottam Rupala, meanwhile, observed that Togadia has been cashing in on the prevalent situation to come closer to the party.
While Togadia’s fire breathing has the potential to mobilise Hindu voters in the ensuing General Elections, “people will not follow him blindly if he tries to support bleak independent candidates or the Congress as he did in the last Assembly election,” Rupala said.
Interestingly, BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Jayanti Barot does not see any rift between Togadia and the BJP.
“We are members of the same family working towards a common goal,” Barot said, adding that the serial blasts in the city called for Togadia’s presence, and he has addressed the concern.
Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj, the rebel sadhu who had thrown his hat in the electoral ring against the BJP in the December Assembly election, however, said that while Togadia came to attend the Parishad meeting in Ahmedabad on Sunday, it was possible that he might possibly work in the party’s electoral interest in the forthcoming elections too.
Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com
“Bhai bhai mein, pati patni mein jhagde hote rehte hain to kya hain? Main aur Modi to bhai bhi nahin hain. Aur Khatai to chalta hi rahta hain (there will be feuds between brothers or even spouses, but so what? Modi and I aren’t even brothers. Relations do sour),” said Togadia, adding that ultimately theirs is one big family.
Modi and Togadia had fallen out long ago and their differences had surfaced strongly during the Municipal Corporation elections in late 2005. Togadia has not played any active role in the Gujarat politics ever since.
During the recent Assembly elections, Togadia had tried to raise an alternative Hindu front against Modi with the help of Uma Bharti, rebel MLAs and angry sadhus of the VHP. But he was reduced to a fringe player and did not address the public.
VHP leader Ashok Singhal had personally visited Gujarat and attempted a patch up between the party and the sadhus. Acharya Dharmendra, infamous for his inflamatory speeches during 2002, had held public meetings across the state to mobilise public support for the BJP, especially Modi.
But after the BJP’s spectacular victory, the warring sadhus did a complete volte-face and Mahanta Avichaldas actually went to bless Modi at the oath-taking ceremony. Party insiders maintain that pressure has been mounting on Togadia to strike peace with Modi. His vitriolic speeches may be utilised to whip up Hindutva sentiments across the state before the Lok Sabha elections.
“With the Amarnath Shrine Board and the bomb blast issues at hand, Hindutva and security are going to be two major issues in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” said a party insider.
With his eyes on Delhi, Modi has been working on an image makeover since long.
“As it is, Modi has good terms with Mohan Bhagwat and the Sangh. The VHP central leadership too has been backing him,” said the source.
He added: “With the General Elections nearing, the saffron brigade is in no mood to take chances in Gujarat this time; more so after the debacle of 2004. Togadia, in all probability, has been pushed into the arena with this aim in mind.”
Gujarat BJP president Parshottam Rupala, meanwhile, observed that Togadia has been cashing in on the prevalent situation to come closer to the party.
While Togadia’s fire breathing has the potential to mobilise Hindu voters in the ensuing General Elections, “people will not follow him blindly if he tries to support bleak independent candidates or the Congress as he did in the last Assembly election,” Rupala said.
Interestingly, BJP general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Jayanti Barot does not see any rift between Togadia and the BJP.
“We are members of the same family working towards a common goal,” Barot said, adding that the serial blasts in the city called for Togadia’s presence, and he has addressed the concern.
Chaitanya Shambhu Maharaj, the rebel sadhu who had thrown his hat in the electoral ring against the BJP in the December Assembly election, however, said that while Togadia came to attend the Parishad meeting in Ahmedabad on Sunday, it was possible that he might possibly work in the party’s electoral interest in the forthcoming elections too.
Courtesy : www.indianexpress.com