Advani, Swaraj see Modi as threat, prefer to defend Gadkari

Even as details are emerging everyday in the media regarding dubious business deals involving BJP president Nitin Gadkari, a section of the party including stalwarts LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj are going out all guns blazing to protect him. According to a report in the DNA, the duo has no choice but to support Gadkari in his time of crisis so that they themselves do not fall prey to the ambitious Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is already eyeing a much bigger role in national politics.[caption id="attachment_503318" align="alignleft" width="380"] BJP leader LK Advani (L) and party president Nitin Gadkari. PTI[/caption] From Advani's blogpost to Swaraj's tweets, it is quite clear how the saffron party has crumbled into an amalgamation of factions where each side is trying to outsmart the other. Ironically, at the Mumbai national executive Advani was not very happy with Gadkari being given a second stint as party chief. However, it did not take long for the BJP veteran to realise that Modi is a far bigger impediment before his political goals than Gadkari, the DNA report said.While Swaraj herself has a dream of occupying the 7 Race Course Road address in New Delhi—Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray also backs her—she knows very well unless Modi is tamed, the dream can only end up as a fiction.