"We are happy that Advani has accepted our advice of self-examination and introspection...Advani has realized corruption in BJP. It is a good sign," party spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters here.
Advani was organizing Bharat bandh against corruption but his party rallied behind former BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, whose role was being investigated by CBI and who was sent to jail, Alvi said at the AICC briefing. Kushwaha had joined BJP just before the UP Assembly elections.
He alleged that BJP showed the same approach towards corruption issues involving former party President Bangaru Laxman and Yeddyurappa.
Asked about the race in BJP over its Prime Ministerial candidate, Alvi said it was their internal fight "but they are fighting for something that they won't ever get".
There is a view in a section of Congress that apparent differences between Advani-Gadkari are basically a fight between RSS and BJP as the latter is not accepting the second term as party President to Gadkari.
"The fissures in the party are showing and the fight among various factions of the BJP will be more apparent in days to come," said a Union minister speaking on the condition of anonymity said.
Party general secretary Digvijay Singh also targeted the BJP chief saying, "The fact remains that Nitin Gadkari had never won an election in his life and he is calling the shots. He is more a businessman than a politician. It is reflected in his dealings during the Rajya Sabha election in Jharkhand and (former Karnataka Chief Minister) B S Yeddyurappa."
Alluding to alleged rise in Gadkari's fortunes over the last two decades, Singh said, "You see his assets in the 1990s and what he has today."
