Advani readies to re-energize BJP, says all is not lost |
|
- Congress urges governor to ask Jharkhand to update below poverty line list
- Lalu fomenting tension in society: BJP leader
- Jharkhand Mukhti Morcha's senior leader Hemant Soren meets J&K CM
- BJP warns against demolition of temples in Jharkhand
- RJD''s Jharkhand unit welcomes RJD/LJP seat sharing formula
- Weak admn structure behind Jharkhand''s under dev: governor
- Besra quits BJP in Jharkhand
- AAAI elections: It ain't over till it's over
- JMM demands Jharkhand assembly polls
- Relations Sour between Cong & JVM(P) in Jharkhand
- RS poll sting: Jharkhand to file FIRs against MLAs
- Jharkhand withdraws facilities to ex-chief ministers
- SC admits petition of Shibu Soren in Shashinath Jha murder case
- Will be glad if someone can do my job better: PC
- BJP demands famine-hit tag for Jharkhand
NEW DELHI: Leader of Opposition L K Advani may vacate his parliamentary post in favour of a younger leader at a time when the baton can be
smoothly handed over, but he is certainly not planning a retirement from politics. That was clear on Sunday when he took on the job of rejuvenating the party, which is reeling under severe internal bickering.
In his attempt to pull the party out of disarray, Advani declared during his closing address at the national executive meeting that he would undertake a tour of all states over the next few months and interact with party workers to help re-energise the party and prepare it to face coming battles, including immediate challenges in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana.
Having seen much worse days when the party's strength was reduced to just two MPs in 1984, Advani told national executive members that results had been disappointing but it was not a "rout" since it had a good 116 MPs in the Lok Sabha, 47 MPs in Rajya Sabha, it was in government in eight states and therefore, "BJP is by no means an inconsiderable force in Indian politics". He added, "If anything, by decimating the third and the fourth fronts, the recent elections have concretised BJP as the only alternative to Congress."
Admitting that there were shortcomings that led to the poll debacle, Advani suggested corrective measures, including encouraging young leaders, taking into account the party's needs for the next 20 years. He also said there was a need to improve the organisation at all levels and strengthen the party. "It is a matter of concern that our party seems to be plateauing in some states, which are our strongholds, while actually suffering big reverses in some others," he said. Advani described the Lok Sabha outcome, which saw the party's strength fall from 138 seats to 116, as a "setback but certainly not a rout".
Advani saw an opportunity for BJP in the "demise" of the third and fourth fronts to build a "strong, stable and superior alternative" to Congress. Advani also stressed on improving relations with NDA allies and other anti-Congress parties which are not part of the NDA, while trying to improve BJP's own strength.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Advani-readies-to-re-energize-BJP-says-all-is-not-lost/articleshow/4683992.cms