04-23-2006, 01:17 PM
<!--c1-->CODE<!--ec1-->Incident plunges BJP into a crisis - By Sanjay Basak
New Delhi, April 22: The BJP plunged into a major organisational crisis with the condition of its chief strategist and fundraiser party general secretary Pramod Mahajan, who was shot by his brother Pravin, continuing to be critical.
For the saffron camp, Mr Mahajan is one of the brains behind the partyâs election strategies and backroom political manoeuvring. Mr Mahajan, suave and moderate, second-generation leader of the BJP, incidentally, is one of the few "organisational men" left in the party. Others had either passed away or have been suspended by the BJP.
Before Mr Mahajan, it was K.N. Govindacharya, who was considered as one of the main spin doctors of the BJP. Other leaders, who could boast of a mass base and grip on the organisation, were Uma Bharti and Madan Lal Khurana, who are now out of the saffron camp. Mr Mahajan, known as a "key crisis manager", always played an important role in coordinating with the saffron allies.
A leading second generation leader, Mr Mahajan was also tipped to take over as party chief in the long run. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had anointed him as the future face of the BJP by describing Mr Advani as "Ram" and Mr Mahajan as "Lakshman". One of the most flamboyant saffron leaders, known for his "political instinct" and a network cutting across party lines, was considered "closest" to Mr Vajpayee. If Arun Jaitley was identified as being close to the partyâs aggressive Hindutva face, Mr Narendra Modi, Mr Mahajan managed to maintain a "safe distance" and was seen as the "most moderate face" in the post-Vajpayee era. With Mr Rajnath Singh at the helm of the party, Mr Mahajan had emerged as the "key player" in the organisation. Incidentally, Mr Mahajan was also one of the most controversial leader in the saffron camp.
After the Assam Assembly polls, the party gave him the responsibility of the Rae Bareli byelection. Mr Mahajan has also been made in charge of Uttaranchal, which will go to polls next year. Other states given to him were Maharashtra and Goa.
Even as Mr Mahajanâs election managing skills failed to bring the NDA back to power in the last general elections with his "India Shining" campaign falling flat, the party kept its faith in him. Mr Mahajan was sent to Bihar to manage the polls along with general secretary Arun Jaitley.
It was Mr Mahajanâs election management which had brought back the BJP to power with a thumping majority in Rajasthan, while the media had predicted a Congress triumph during the last Assembly polls in the state. The BJP relied heavily on Mr Mahajan on the Maharashtra affairs. He was the partyâs "last word" in Maharashtra politics.
Shocked by the incident, while the saffron top brass rushed to Mumbai, a prayer meeting was held at the national headquarters of the organisation for his "speedy recovery". After the BJP lost power in the last general elections, the lotus brigade was hit by one crisis after another. The first wave of trouble lashed the saffron camp was when its backward face Uma Bharti revolted against then party chief L.K. Advani. The BJP suspended Ms Bharti.
Immediately after, it was Mr Advaniâs controversial remarks on Jinnah, which cost him the post of party president and brought to the surface the differences between the RSS and BJP. As the RSS targeted Mr Advani, the "cash-for-questions" and "MPLAD scams" struck. Before the outfit could recover, copies of a CD allegedly showing the sexual encounters of BJP general secretary (organisation) Sanjay Joshi surfaced.<!--c2--><!--ec2-->
.......Anyone remembers whatever happended to Shivani Bhatnagar murder case which allegedly involved Pramod Mahajan.......strange are the ways of divine.
New Delhi, April 22: The BJP plunged into a major organisational crisis with the condition of its chief strategist and fundraiser party general secretary Pramod Mahajan, who was shot by his brother Pravin, continuing to be critical.
For the saffron camp, Mr Mahajan is one of the brains behind the partyâs election strategies and backroom political manoeuvring. Mr Mahajan, suave and moderate, second-generation leader of the BJP, incidentally, is one of the few "organisational men" left in the party. Others had either passed away or have been suspended by the BJP.
Before Mr Mahajan, it was K.N. Govindacharya, who was considered as one of the main spin doctors of the BJP. Other leaders, who could boast of a mass base and grip on the organisation, were Uma Bharti and Madan Lal Khurana, who are now out of the saffron camp. Mr Mahajan, known as a "key crisis manager", always played an important role in coordinating with the saffron allies.
A leading second generation leader, Mr Mahajan was also tipped to take over as party chief in the long run. Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had anointed him as the future face of the BJP by describing Mr Advani as "Ram" and Mr Mahajan as "Lakshman". One of the most flamboyant saffron leaders, known for his "political instinct" and a network cutting across party lines, was considered "closest" to Mr Vajpayee. If Arun Jaitley was identified as being close to the partyâs aggressive Hindutva face, Mr Narendra Modi, Mr Mahajan managed to maintain a "safe distance" and was seen as the "most moderate face" in the post-Vajpayee era. With Mr Rajnath Singh at the helm of the party, Mr Mahajan had emerged as the "key player" in the organisation. Incidentally, Mr Mahajan was also one of the most controversial leader in the saffron camp.
After the Assam Assembly polls, the party gave him the responsibility of the Rae Bareli byelection. Mr Mahajan has also been made in charge of Uttaranchal, which will go to polls next year. Other states given to him were Maharashtra and Goa.
Even as Mr Mahajanâs election managing skills failed to bring the NDA back to power in the last general elections with his "India Shining" campaign falling flat, the party kept its faith in him. Mr Mahajan was sent to Bihar to manage the polls along with general secretary Arun Jaitley.
It was Mr Mahajanâs election management which had brought back the BJP to power with a thumping majority in Rajasthan, while the media had predicted a Congress triumph during the last Assembly polls in the state. The BJP relied heavily on Mr Mahajan on the Maharashtra affairs. He was the partyâs "last word" in Maharashtra politics.
Shocked by the incident, while the saffron top brass rushed to Mumbai, a prayer meeting was held at the national headquarters of the organisation for his "speedy recovery". After the BJP lost power in the last general elections, the lotus brigade was hit by one crisis after another. The first wave of trouble lashed the saffron camp was when its backward face Uma Bharti revolted against then party chief L.K. Advani. The BJP suspended Ms Bharti.
Immediately after, it was Mr Advaniâs controversial remarks on Jinnah, which cost him the post of party president and brought to the surface the differences between the RSS and BJP. As the RSS targeted Mr Advani, the "cash-for-questions" and "MPLAD scams" struck. Before the outfit could recover, copies of a CD allegedly showing the sexual encounters of BJP general secretary (organisation) Sanjay Joshi surfaced.<!--c2--><!--ec2-->
.......Anyone remembers whatever happended to Shivani Bhatnagar murder case which allegedly involved Pramod Mahajan.......strange are the ways of divine.