New Delhi:
BJP patriarch LK Advani's resignation on Monday evoked mixed political reactions.
Why Advani's resignation crisis for you? Omar to BJP
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said the resignation of BJP patriarch L K Advani, whose opinion was ignored in BJP, should not be a crisis for it.
"If his opinion didn't matter to you yesterday, why is his resignation a crisis for you today?" Omar tweeted, after Advani announced his resignation from key party fora.
The 85-year-old founder member of BJP today sent his resignation to party President Rajnath Singh, a day after the elevation of his one-time protege Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as election campaign committee chief at the National Executive meet held in Goa.
BJP without Advani is unthinkable: Shatrughan Sinha
'Over ambition' of some BJP leaders has resulted in the resignation of party patriarch L K Advani and it would be difficult for many of them to work with the same ambition without its 'architect', actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha has said.
"BJP without Advani is unthinkable today ... His resignation is a bolt from the blue for the party," Sinha, Lok Sabha member from Bihar, told PTI here.
Sinha, a known ardent supporter of Advani, did not attend the party's Goa conclave citing health grounds.
He said 'over ambition' of some BJP leaders has brought the party to this 'sorry state' where a senior leader like Advani, who had taken BJP from a 2-MP party to 182-member party in Lok Sabha, has to quit.
"Some of the leaders who are shedding crockodile tears over Advani are responsible for pushing the party to ruin," he said adding it would be better if the things settle down once and for all by the same people who had precipitated the crisis.
He did not name anybody but said they could be identified easily.
"If things are not settled quickly, many more resignations will follow in the days to come and the party will be in deeper trouble," Sinha, who had served as cabinet minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, said.
Describing Advani as 'friend, philospher and guru', Sinha said he would remain with him always. "To hurt him (Advani) like this at this stage of life is really heart breaking."
One can not think of NDA without Advani: Shiv Sena
Key ally and NDA member Shiv Sena has termed senior BJP leader L K Advani's decision to quit all party posts as "painful".
"(Sena president) Uddhav Thackeray has said that the contribution of Advani and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in building the party was invaluable for both BJP and the NDA," Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut told PTI.
"One cannot think of NDA or the BJP without Advani-ji," Raut quoted Uddhav as saying.
The Sena president had said that "we all will try to persuade Advani (to withdraw his resignation)", Raut said.
"Mr Advani is one of the tallest leaders in the NDA and the Bharatiya Janata Party. His guidance is of utmost importance to the NDA. It (his resignation) is certainly a cause of concern. And we would definitely want the BJP to address the issue," Sena leader Rahul Narvekar said, when asked how the resignation would impact BJP and NDA.
"Advani is certainly a guiding force. Whether he is a Bhishma Pitamah or something else I am not aware. For us honourable Advaniji is a very very senior leader whose guidance is valued and we would like to have that in future as well," Narvekar added.
'Advani's resignation first sign of protest against Modi'
BJP veteran L K Advani's resignation from key party posts is the first sign of protest against the elevation of Narendra Modi, WBPCC president Pradip Bhattacharya said on Monday.
"The resignation is a first sign of protest against elevation of communal Modi. The fire of protest will soon spread to others parts of the country," Bhattacharya told a party rally here.
"I feel sad for Advani, who along with Vajpayee had worked hard to establish the BJP. Today Advani has been sidelined. He has resigned from all posts of BJP," he added.
A founder member of BJP, 85-year-old Advani today resigned from the Parliamentary Board, National Executive and Election Committee.
Advani's resignation not good for NDA's health: JD(U)
New Delhi, Jun 10 (PTI) Terming the resignation of L K Advani from all top BJP posts as a "serious issue" and "not good for NDA's health," Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav has said his party, which is an ally of the NDA, will meet to discuss the matter.
"I am deeply saddened by the resignation of Advaniji... NDA was forged with the efforts of Atalji and Advaniji. He (Advani) is also the working president and Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) is not keeping well.
"So his (Advani) resignation in my opinion is a serious issue and we will convene our own party meeting to discuss the matter...Advanji's resignation is not good for NDA's health," said Yadav, who is also the convenor of the NDA.
Advani, one of the founding member of BJP, resigned from the party Parliamentary Board, Election Committee and National Executive, apparently opposing the elevation of his one-time protege Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as election campaign committee chief.
Objecting to some of the statements made at the BJP's Goa meet, the JD(U) leader said some of the remarks were beyond the realm of NDA agenda.
The stand of JD(U) on the issue is crucial for BJP after the rift in the party became wide open with Advani quitting key posts in the organisation.
Advani's resignation over Modi elevation shocking: RSS
RSS has described as shocking andun fortunate BJP patriarch L K Advani's resignation from all party posts over Narendra Modi's elevation as its campaign committee chief, noting all is not well in the saffron party.
M G Vaidya, a veteran leader of BJP's ideological fountainhead, while reacting to Advani's stunning decision, a day after the anointment of the Gujarat Chief Minister, said some resignations of his followers may follow.
He also said RSS would not directly intervene in the crisis in the party unless asked by it.
"It's shocking that leader of such a great stature has to quit. It is now evident that all is not well in the BJP.
Advani was probably perturbed over the inner crisis in the BJP and therefore quit all positions," Vaidya, a former RSS spokesperson, told reporters here.
Noting that Advani resigned only after the declaration of Modi as campaign committee chairman, Vaidya said the common man will correlate them.
"Some other leaders and Advani's followers too may tender resignations," he added.
He also said that earlier leaders such as Kalyan Singh and Uma Bharti had quit the party, but Advani's case was different.
Another RSS leader Ram Madhav said Advani's resignation is unfortunate. "Hope the Party leaders would persuade him to take it back," he tweeted.
