Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee yesterday tried to dispel the impression of disunity among the BJPs senior leadership and exhorted other parties to take lessons from the party on how to peacefully elect a new President.
He also tried to create an impression that the BJP as a party would not lose its significance at a time when the party was ruling at the Centre. He was delivering the valedictory address at the council meeting.
Vajpayee presented an unusual bonhomie by applauding the role played by former party president L K Advani in bringing the BJP to great political heights. If there is one man who deserves credit for bringing the BJP to its present position, it is none other than Advani, Vajpayee said. We are all grateful to Advani for what he had done for the party and the way he keeps himself involved in finding solutions to problems of running the coalition government, he said.
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The Prime Minister showered laurels on the new BJP president Kushabhau Thakre by describing him as the right choice. He said he has known Thakre since he was in college and his personality is what the party needs at a crucial time when it is in power.
Vajpayees appreciation for Thakre was meant to send the right kind of message to the national council members. The two have been known to be at loggerheads and the former was at one time reported to be opposed to Thakres elevation as party president. Such a demonstration of unity will create cadre-confidence, one council member said after the meeting. Vajpayee also exhorted the party workers to be prepared to work with the spirit of sacrifice. Any proposal that is beneficial to people could be brought to the attention of the government, he said.