Ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive committee meeting, former BJP president Nitin Gadkari may not accept the proposal to head the election committee for Assembly elections in five states.
The proposal mooted by senior BJP leader L K Advani had suggested that Gadkari be made incharge of the election committees of Delhi, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand.
But Gadkari has reportedly declined to head the committee and would instead focus all his energies on contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur seat.
As the party’s internal rift is being played out in the open, Gadkari would not like to be caught in a tussle between Advani and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, sources said.
Sources close to Gadkari told Express said he would not like to comment on the issue and would share his views in the party fora.
The former president’s decision assumes significance as it comes days ahead of the national executive meet, where the issue of BJP prime ministerial candidate is likely to overshadow all debate, despite not being on agenda.
As party president Rajnath Singh had said on Monday that Modi is a popular leader, he could be anointed as the chairman of the campaign committee for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
In a related development, BJP’s Goa spokesperson Laxmikant Parsekar said Advani had not yet confirmed his participation in the June 9 party workers’ convention.
“At least till now, Advani has not confirmed (his participation) for the convention,” he said, adding that Modi would address the meet.