Nagpur: The speculations are running wild! The speculations are rife that Sanjay Joshi, a bête noire of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and who is in an exile of sorts in BJP, could be made the next President of the party. Sources said that activities in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been accelerated to put the Nagpur-based Sanjay Joshi, who was once Organization Secretary of BJP and a Pracharak, at the helm of the party. If RSS succeeds in running the show in future, then Sanjay Joshi could be given the chance to run BJP as its President. The move could hit two birds with one stone: It will checkmate the ‘individualistic’ Modi and peak the importance of RSS.
Sources further said that the RSS, after witnessing defeats after defeats for BJP, plans to send the present party President Amit Shah to Gujarat as the Chief Minister. If this plan goes right way, two names from Nagpur itself have been ‘selected’ for the coveted post of BJP chief. The names are – Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Sanjay Joshi. The name of Sanjay Joshi comes as surprise because his relations with Narendra Modi are an ‘open secret.’ The top functionary in RSS, Bhayyaji Joshi, has pushed one and only one name, Sanjay Joshi, said the sources.
One thing has also emerged crystal clear. Gadkari has refused to relinquish ministership. He is ‘busy and happy’ in development works. He is reportedly told the top RSS echelons in clear terms his intentions. With a ‘firm no’ from Gadkari, the name of Sanjay Joshi has almost become certain, at RSS level. The three eyes of RSS are Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat, Sarsangh Karyavah Bhayyaji Joshi and Sahsarsangh Karyavah Dattatray Hosbole. Their ‘nod’ is must for arriving at any decision, stressed the sources.
As far as ‘nod’ for Sanjay Joshi’s name is concerned, it is utmost surprising, to say the least. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is reportedly angry over Modi’s style of unilateral power game. The ‘anger’ was expressed in the form of a statement over reservation policy during Bihar Assembly elections. (Ultimately, BJP lost humiliatingly at the hustings). If Sanjay Joshi becomes BJP chief, it will a sort of checkmate to Modi and peak the importance of Nagpur and RSS as well, said the sources.
Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha ( rajeev.nagpurtoday@g
