Embarrassment for BJP: Jethmalani to back Kejriwal's claims on Gadkari

New Delhi: In an embarrassment for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a letter by party leader Ram Jethmalani to party President Nitin Gadkari has surfaced. CNN-IBN has got a copy of a letter written by Jethmalani complaining about the state of affairs in the party.

In a stunning claim to CNN-IBN, Jethmalani has said that if Arvind Kejriwal gives evidence of irregularities against Gadkari, then the senior BJP leader will not only back Kejriwal, but he too has evidence of wrongdoing by the BJP President. He also went to the extent of saying that he would demand Gadkari's resignation if the charges surface.

The letter, addressed to Gadkari, dated September 27, 2012, when the BJP national executive was meeting in Surajkund on the outskirts of Delhi. Jethmalani has also said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi must be appointed as the party's Prime Ministerial candidate.

This comes even as the NDA has been divided over Modi being made the Prime Ministerial candidate. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had also raised objections when there were talks of Modi being made the Prime Ministerial candidate.

He has also questioned whether the BJP is really committed in fight against black money. Jethmalani said some of the aspiring leaders of the BJP have announced that 'black money is no issue' and the party's spokesmen are under instructions not to emphasize on this matter in public. Meanwhile, Gadkari has said that he had not received any such letter.

While Jethmalani says he is ready to back claims against Gadkari, Kejriwal is set to take centrestage again on Wednesday. Kejriwal had threatened to release proof of corruption by BJP President Nitin Gadkari. It now remains to be seen whether Gadkari will be his next target or it will be the NCP.

Copy of the letter that Ram Jethmalani wrote: