Known for speaking his mind, Vaidya wrote on his blog that the "needle of suspicion in the campaign against BJP president Nitin Gadkari points to Gujarat BJP and Chief Minister Narendra Modi".
He also noted that "Ram Jethmalani had in one breath said he is seeking the resignation of Gadkari and that he also wanted to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister in 2014."
Notwithstanding the denials, Vaidya stood his ground today saying there seemed to be unrest in the BJP and the lack of solidarity was evident with members openly expressing their resentment.
"It is my opinion and because Jethmalani has combined two things demanding Gadkari's resignation and making Narendra Modi as PM. I think that the needle of suspicion goes to Gujarat.
"I just said that needle of suspicion goes to Modi and that raises suspicion if Jethmalani is entitled to his own point of view, I am also entitled to my point of view and RSS has nothing to do with it."
BJP and RSS normally ignore Vaidya's writings and utterances but this time both were quick in distancing themselves from his views. BJP said the allegation is baseless.
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"The writer has tried to link recent comments by one of the party MPs (Jethmalani) with Narendra Modi, Chief Minister of Gujarat. The BJP completely rejects such insinuation as it is totally unfounded," Gadkari said in a statement.
Interestingly, Gadkari described Vaidya only as a senior journalist. (More)