Who will take over the mantle from Advani? An unknown RSS man or a mass-based leader?

Political Acumen: Shekhawat (right), seen here with Advani, is a master of realpolitikWhat sets The BJP'S Ashoka Road headquarters in Delhi apart from the national offices of other political parties is that it is never unmanned. Be it midnight or the crack of dawn, there is always a senior party functionary - inevitably full time RSS apparatchiks - in attendance.One such permanent fixture is the 76-year-old BJP General Secretary Kushabhau Thakre. Till a fortnight ago, it was almost certain that Thakre would succeed L.K. Advani as party president in December. But recent political developments in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have put a question mark over Thakre's chances. The BJP's tallest mass leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee is now questioning the wisdom of putting an unknown face at the organisational helm in what is likely to be an election year.The alternative name being floated is that of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, the Rajasthan chief minister who has shown the ability not just to win power but retain it. The tough Rajput has survived skirmishes with the Rajasthan RSS and has been criticised for his "Congress-style" politics. Yet, he is the man to whom the party turns in moments of intense crisis. Many in the BJP, for example, credit Shekhawat with topping up the number of Congress defectors in Uttar Pradesh by an extra five MLAs. In addition, he is the closest confidant of Vajpayee.Though Vajpayee would like to see Shekhawat become party president, he is aware that the biggest stumbling block is the 73-year-old chief minister's health. Two heart bypass surgeries have put a question mark on his fitness to handle the affairs of a party looking to Delhi. This is also the argument put forward by those opposed to Shekhawat becoming president.The question of who should succeed Advani actually points to a more fundamental dilemma. The BJP is no longer an extension counter of the RSS. It has become a mass party. Yet, it is strangely wary of giving mass leaders organisational responsibilities. Several state unit presidents like Kidar Nath Sahni in Delhi, Ramdas Agarwal in Rajasthan, Ashwini Kumar in Bihar and Vishnu Kant Shastri in West Bengal have no mass appeal.These faceless men may have done great service to the cause. But in the late '90s they also appear passe and could be restricting the party's appeal. In the days of the Jan Sangh, Deendayal Upadhyay was the organisational supremo and Vajpayee the public leader. But the Jan Sangh never even had an outside chance of securing power. The BJP does. And it is the same Vajpayee who can carry the party to Delhi. But only if the BJP becomes more sensitive to mass politics.That is why the K.N. Govindacharya episode was significant in the internal party power play. When Vajpayee expressed his anger at the general secretary's comments likening him to a "public mask", he did not merely put a cloud over Govindacharya's future. Vajpayee was also sending a signal that the party should not take it for granted that he will accept an apolitical person like Thakre as the next president.Advani, however, does not appear to have given up hopes of making Thakre his successor. Last week, construction work began in Ashoka Road to expand Thakre's single room office cum residence into a two-room unit. Since Thakre has been content with his spartan living quarters, the construction presumably suggests that he is still in the race. Advani, for example, made sure that Thakre sat in on two crucial meetings last week at Vajpayee's house during the Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh crises. Significantly, Shekhawat was also called to the meeting on Gujarat.Sensing a possible dispute over his successor, Advani has now indicated that should the United Front collapse during the winter session of Parliament, he will continue as president till the general elections. It also suits Vajpayee to see Advani continue for some time. At least he will not be burdened by an individual who he is not comfortable with.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Nov 10, 1997 00:00 IST--- ENDS ---

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Who will take over the mantle from Advani? An unknown RSS man or a mass-based leader?

Recent political developments throw open the question of who will take over the mantle from Advani. An unknown RSS man or a mass-based leader?

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