Click to play videoNew Delhi: Hemmed in by friends-turned-foes, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L K Advani, is a lonely man today. Colleague after colleague who were with him in the Vajpayee government is now questioning his credibility.
While the Kandahar hostage crisis is almost a decade old now, the issues it has raised have been aimed directly at the man who has prided himself on being the BJP's Loh Purush (Iron Man).
Former national security advisor Brajesh Mishra, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha and former defence minister George Fernandes have stated categorically that L K Advani was present at the Cabinet Committee on Security meet held on Kandahar.
His supporters within the party insist that the Kandahar issue has been blown out of proportion and there is no question of Advani resigning over it.
BJP Spokesperson, Chandan Mitra says, "Mr Advani has said again and again that very reluctantly, the then government - including himself - agreed to the release of the three terrorists. So where is the deception, where is the misleading?"
The Kandahar controversy could not have come at a worse time for Advani. Ever since the 2009 election defeat, there has been a question mark over Advani continuing as the BJP's leader of Opposition. Advani himself has insisted he will remain in that position for a full five-year term, but even his admirers doubt that.
BJP leader, Swapan Dasgupta - a staunch Advani admirer says, "It would be a factor in solving the BJP crisis if Mr Advani re-acquired his moral authority. One possible way of doing it is for him to take a step aside. Mr Advani has taken a knock but he still remains the tallest leader in the BJP."
At the age of 82, L K Advani is looking to re-define an eroded legacy.
So what are L K Advani's relaistic options?
- Party sources say Advani has planned a leadership transition in December when the BJP will hold its national convention
- Advani would like a decisive say in who will succeed him
- He was planning on a public yatra ahead of the Assembly elections which has been put off. He will however campaign in the October state elections in Haryana and Maharashtra
It seems as if the BJP's one time ideological mascot will now have to fight yet another battle to ensure that the party he co-founded with Atal Bihari Vajpayee will remember him for his contribution and not for the recent controversies.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter and Google+)
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
displayed with permission. Use of the CNN name and/or logo on or as part of CNN-IBN does not derogate from the intellectual property rights of Cable News Network in respect of them.