The Men And Women Who Matter

RSS: The parent organisation has the biggest stake in the BJP. Its demand for action against Jaswant is an assertion of authority. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat gave a significant interview last week that is still being interpreted.

L.K. Advani: He has played a major role in building the party. Has shown no inclination to retire from the constitutional post of Leader of the Opposition. But he may cave in soon.

Narendra Modi: He may be facing problems in Gujarat but remains a formidable force in the BJP's decision-making process. Has decided not to take sides in the succession battle. But was all for the expulsion of Jaswant Singh.

Rajnath Singh: His term as party president ends this year. Has been making many manoeuvres to get another plum job and remain a national player since his prospects in his home state, Uttar Pradesh, are bleak.

Sushma Swaraj: At her best when Parliament is in session and is a contender for the party president's post. But now that the RSS has begun asserting itself, will a woman who is not from the shakha stable make it to the key organisation post?

 

Arun Jaitley: Currently Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Is trying to stay out of the daily bickerings (of which he was the target after the election defeat) in the party and is applying himself to preparing the BJP's position on policy matters.
 

State Leaders: Shivraj Chauhan (Madhya Pradesh), Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh), Y.S. Yediyurappa (Karnataka), Sushil Modi (Bihar) tend their states but do influence decision-making at the national level.

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Yashwant Sinha: Wrote to Rajnath Singh after the BJP's poor showing in Elections 2009. Sinha wanted the party to fix accountability for the poll debacle. To set an example, he quit from all party posts. Result: he was not made chairman of the parliamentary standing committee. Nor was he invited for the chintan baithak in Shimla.

Vasundhararaje: Created a stir when she refused to comply with Rajnath Singh's diktat to step down as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajasthan assembly. The former Rajasthan CM and her 60-odd MLAs who have turned rebels have become a major source of embarrassment for the BJP.
 

Arun Shourie: The BJP high command was not amused by the series of articles he wrote in a daily wherein he stated that the party was run by a few leaders and their cohorts. His criticism of the party at a parliamentary party meeting two months ago also upset many in the BJP. Like Yashwant Sinha, Shourie was excluded from the Shimla sitting.

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Kalyan Singh
Former UP chief minister. Presided over the Babri Masjid demolition.

• Expelled in December 1999
• Reason: For repeatedly issuing statements against then PM, Atal Behari Vajpayee. He questioned his ability to govern and even referred to him as a drunkard.
• Impact of his expulsion:  BJP has lost ground in UP
• Current status: Is close to the Samajwadi Party

Madan Lal Khurana
Former chief minister of Delhi and known as a people's politician

• Expelled in March 2006
• Reason: Participated in rallies organised by Uma Bharati
• Impact of expulsion:  The BJP lost a leader with a mass base in Delhi
• Current status: Rejoined the party in April 2008

Uma Bharati
Was linked to the Ramjanmabhoomi movement. Served as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh & Union minister.

• Expelled in December 2005
• Reason: Working towards the ouster of MP CM Shivraj Chauhan. Was earlier suspended in Nov 2004 for attacking Advani. Suspension revoked in May 2005, thanks to the RSS.
• Impact of her expulsion: Very marginal
• Current status: Started the Bharatiya Janshakti Party

K.N. Govindacharya
Former BJP general-secretary on deputation from RSS

• Dropped from national executive in Sept ’97
• Reason: Described Vajpayee as BJP’s ‘mukhota’ (liberal mask). Also opposed the market-friendly policies of then NDA government.
• Impact of expulsion: Loss of a master strategist, ideologue
• Current status: Quit RSS in Jan ’02. Now runs three organisations developing a swadeshi economic, cultural and political model.

Shankersinh Vaghela
Former Gujarat CM and ex-Union textiles minister

• Expelled in August 1996
• Reason: Engineered a revolt against BJP CM Suresh Mehta and ousted him
• Impact of expulsion: Added some teeth to the Congress
• Current status: First started Rashtriya Janata Party. Later joined Congress in July 1999. Defeated from the Panchmahals in the last Lok Sabha elections.

Sanghpriya Gautam
Minister of state for agro and rural industries in the Vajpayee government

• Expelled in March 2006
• Reason: Participating in a rally organised by Uma Bharati
• Impact of expulsion: Near zero
• Current status: Is now with the Bharatiya Janshakti Party