Nagpur News.
Setting the rumor mills working at high pace, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of one of the India’s largest corporate Reliance Industries Limited, reportedly made a surprise visit to Nagpur few days back where he held a closed door meeting with former BJP President Nitin Gadkari at the latter’s residence. The meeting has stirred a hornet’s nest in the political circles which have been churning several equations out of the under-the-wraps parley between the industrial conglomerate and the BJP’s bigwig.
Sources close to Gadkariwada informed that some days back Ambani landed in Nagpur and headed directly towards Gadkari’s residence from the airport. Both had the private discussion and after a brief meeting Ambani flew back to Mumbai.
Speculations are rife that the meeting has much to do with the forthcoming general elections for which BJP has projected Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate. The decision has however upset a faction of senior party leaders and few of its allies, particularly Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who broke his party JD (U)’s alliance with the BJP following the decision.
Given the political turmoil in which the BJP is currently caught over Modi’s projection as the prime ministerial candidate, the meeting holds much water in the context of Gadkari’s ambitions to lead the key position at the Centre in the aftermath of Lok Sabha polls.
Some time back, on being asked about the probable alternative to Modi in the event of allies’ reluctance to form unanimous opinion on Modi’s name, in case the BJP stood chance to form the government, a top functionary of RSS had commented that “Dark horse is always there.” This aired clear views of RSS to support some other candidate if the need arises. And Gadkari stands tall among the RSS favorable.
Sources believe that in the recent times, Ambani has emerged as the most powerful industrial conglomerate that has some say in the political decisions. Many of the poll analysts believe that it was Ambani behind the decision of making Vijay Bahuguna as Uttarakhand’s chief minister post the 2012 state assembly elections there. He had held closed parleys with the Congress key leaders then also.
Back to current situation in saffron brigade, poll pundits strongly feel that BJP clearly has the possibility of being blocked from winning majority in the upcoming general elections. Under such a scheme of things, the party would require support from allies, most of whom are wary of supporting Modi as PM candidate. JD (U) has already made its stand clear. Mamta Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) have already made their views clear over Modi. The party would have to consider other prospective candidate in that likelihood.
Sources said that if such a situation arises the party would pick up the candidate having strong pitch from RSS. And Gadkari fairly stands a chance to be in the second lead.
Another section of speculators were of the view that senior BJP leader LK Advani could also be considered for the post in the situation adverse to Modi, given his long nourished dream to serve the top post. Even in that case, Gadkari would be kept as second in command, sources added.
File Pic
