By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bhopal: Quite a flutter was caused during the visit of former Union minister and ex-national BJP president Venkaiah Naidu, who is in-charge of Madhya Pradesh, to the state BJP headquarters in Bhopal on Thursday, when pamphlets raising questions on his leadership abilities were distributed.
The pamphlet titled “Questions to Venkaiah” had no print line. The occasion was when Naidu was present at the Madhya Pradesh BJP headquarters to attend the party’s office-bearers meet from the state to the district level.
It was stated in the pamphlet that nephew of Venkaiah lost Municipal Corporation election in Bengaluru from the ward where his house is situated. The pamphlet claimed that the BJP was in a poor state in Andhra Pradesh, which is the native state of Venkaiah.
The pamphlet also stated that in 1993, there were 34 MLAs in BJP in Andhra Pradesh and then Telgu Desam had formed government in that state in coalition with the BJP. “then, what is the reason for BJP not having a single MLA in Andhra Pradesh?” the pamphlet questioned.
The pamphlet said with what authority could a person who could not ensure party’s win on a single seat in Andhra Pradesh, give tips to win elections in other state. He did not have the moral authority to preach to party workers in Madhya Pradesh as to how to win elections.
BJP state president Narendra Singh Tomar terming the distribution of controversial pamphlet as a conspiracy, held other political parties responsible for it. On the other hand Congress has termed the incident as a manifestation of internal tussle within the BJP.
Meanwhile, the Intelligence sleuths and the Bhopal district police have been given the task of finding the source of controversial pamphlet. Prior to distribution of anti-Naidu pamphlets, such pamphlets aiming at character assassination of several leaders have come out in the past too.
BJP leaders maintain that some pamphlets are close to the truth but their aim is to create sensation. Some leaders on conditions of anonymity said the distribution of controversial pamphlet seems to be a part of the ongoing clamour for Prime Minister’s post in the BJP. It is the handiwork of supporters of Nitin Gadkari, who had to step down from the post of BJP president recently when he was denied second term by part high command, in the state. Venkaiah is known to belong to anti-Gadkari camp.
Addressing state BJP office-bearers, leaders and organisational heads Naidu instructed party workers to be prepared for mid-term’ general elections. Lok Sabha elections could take place anytime. There is no guarantee it will happen in 2014. He appreciated the leadership Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and his schemes for various sections of the people.
In reference to the Union Home Minister Sushil Shinde’s recent controversial statement linking BJP-RSS to Hindu terrorism, Naidu slammed the Congress party as it was only exposing its own ignorance and illiteracy by the accusation. The fact is that in the North-East, a Congressman was found involved in terror activities and was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by the law courts, he pointed out.