Sushma Swaraj stronger as Arun Jaitley fails

New Delhi: The BJP may have registered an unprecedented victory with Narendra Modi leading the charge, but the party’s old hawk L.K. Advani appeared reluctant to give credit to Mr Modi for its stupendous performance in the Lok Sabha polls.

Mr Advani, who is unwilling to be a part of a Modi-led government but still wants a respectable position, in fact suggested that Mr Modi’s contribution in the victory has to be analysed. His remarks came as the BJP and RSS leaderships are deliberating on the post-poll scenario and on portfolios. Mr Advani’s name is doing the rounds as the next Lok Sabha Speaker, though he apparently wants to continue as NDA chairman.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh met Mr Advani in the morning amid speculation that Sushma Swaraj, considered close to the veteran leader, is pushing for an important portfolio. With senior leader Arun Jaitley losing the Amritsar Lok Sabha seat, a section within the party feels Ms Swaraj’s claim to a major Cabinet post has got stronger. Sources said, however, that Mr Jaitley, the party’s key strategist and troubleshooter, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, is still in the race for one of the top four portfolios.