Will Narendra Modi antagonise BJP old-guards or take them along?
Modi is not likely to upset the old guard and is expected to give them ‘good positions’
Mumbai: The man, who was vilified by the media and political rivals outside and inside BJP has had his revenge. After a contentious start as a BJP's PM candidate, opposed by the leaders like L K Advani, Narendra Modi singlehandedly steered the party to a historic electoral triumph. Post 1984 there has not been a single party, which could manage a majority on its own. BJP could break that jinx.
With Modi crafting a resounding victory for the party room for any dissent has been closed. The old guards or the senior leaders like Sushma Swaraj, L K Advani, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, who apparently were in a mood to bargain for coveted berths and positions will have no other option but toe the Modi line.
However, Modi is not likely to upset the old guard at this juncture and is expected to give them "good positions." Advani might now have no other option but to accept the post of
Lok Sabha Speaker and relinquish his post of NDA chairman (acting) to Modi. Similarly though the Modi team now would be in no mood to "tolerate" any tantrums by the old guard, Dr Joshi could still be accommodated and Ms Swaraj be might just land up as External Affairs minister. The big question will be on the positioning of Mr Arun Jaitley in the government, if he finally loses Amritsar (He continues to trail). Jaitley had been eyeing the Finance ministry. There was also a talk of giving him external affairs. If defeated, his role will remain to be seen.
What is clear is that the big brother of Sangh-RSS will play a key role in government formation and organisational restructure of BJP. Also with the RSS backing Modi is going to take on the old guard if it falls out of line. In this election, the new core team, which would be running the saffron show, will Modi-Amit Shah-Arun Jaitley-Rajnath Singh- Nitin Gadkari.