Decks cleared for Govindacharya's return to BJP

The decks have been cleared for the return of the former ideologue, K.N. Govindacharya, to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

An upbeat Govindacharya camp was all over the saffron corridors yesterday, flaunting an interview of the BJP chief, L.K. Advani, in a Hindi weekly magazine, which they believe has paved the way for the return to the party of the former ideologue and his close associate, Uma Bharti.

Govindacharya was eased out of the organisation after he insulted the former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

In the interview, when Advani was asked whether he would consider taking back Govindacharya since expelled leaders such as Kalyan Singh had made a come back, the BJP chief replied, "Kyun nahi, unke khilaf to koi mamla nahin hain (Why not. There are no cases against him)."

The other cause for celebration in the camp was Advani's reply on the suspension of Bharti. "We are reconsidering her case. Her contribution to the nation and Madhya Pradesh and her ideological commitment cannot be questioned," Advani went on record as saying.

The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Babulal Gaur, who had "welcomed" Bharti's suspension, changed tack yesterday saying that he "does not believe that Umaji had written a letter describing the present state government as a B-team of Congress". Gaur observed: "Umaji has said she has not written the letter. I believe her."

Gaur then claimed that Bharti would meet him at his residence following the death of his son.

Asked whether any action would be taken against BJP workers who met Bharti, Gaur replied, "I have no problems with that. The workers would meet her in their personal capacity." The Madhya Pradesh chief minister, however, claimed that there was "no problem" about his continuing as the state chief minister.

Though Govindacharya's camp is upbeat, they made it categorically clear that before considering "Govindji's case, the BJP has to settle Umaji's issue".

Govindacharya, incidentally, had "no comments" to make on his proposed return to the party.

The BJP chief, who appeared to be in a mood to "forget and forgive", also declared in the interview that "no action will be taken against Smriti Irani, since she has come out with an unconditional apology."

Irani had flayed the Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the communal carnage and demanded his resignation.

As for Govindacharya's return, his supporters argued, "If Kalyan Singh could return to the party after calling Vajpayeeji names, why not he ?"

- The Asian Age