LK Advani joins Rahul Gandhi in criticizing BJP for being 'one-man show'

NEW DELHI: BJP's preeminent party elder, LK Advani, has critiqued the Narendra Modi-led and dominated campaign effort by telling the party's senior leaders that it is becoming "a one-man party". Advani has also told BJP leaders that he agrees with Rahul Gandhi's critique of BJP being dominated by one leader.

BJP's senior-most leaders who spoke to ET for this story, on condition they not be identified, said Advani has been making similar observations over the last few weeks, as Modi's campaign has gathered tempo. But the sharpest critique, one BJP leader said, came at the February 27 meeting of BJP's central election committee.

Modi, Advani and Rajnath Singh were among those who attended the meeting. Another leader, who also attended the meeting, said Advani made his observations as leaders were looking at pros and cons of prospective candidates to finalise the party's first list. Modi was seated next to Advani. Advani, this leader added, said he agrees with Rahul Gandhi's critique, which was made in Haryana on February 24, that BJP has been reduced to a one man show. When another leader proposed that BJP should counter this, Advani is learnt to have said, "There's nothing wrong with what he ( Rahul Gandhi) has said." Another meeting attendee said when Advani made these remarks, "there was uncomfortable silence".

"Modi kept quiet", this leader said, while others "didn't take the point forward". Rajnath Singh, who this leader said was seated on the other side of Advani, "broke the silence and started talking about candidate selection". Advani could not be contacted.

The party elder's scriticism of BJP's campaign style has been expressed at other party forums as well, a senior BJP leader closely involved with election strategy said. Another BJP leader, who's been a close associate of Modi, said: "Advaniji's criticism is not surprising...he had wanted to be the party's PM candidate."

Advani is learnt to have told the party leadership that "campaigning is a joint effort by the party where all senior leaders should take part...This time it is Modi and only Modi who is visible. What about others like Sushma Swaraj who are capable of holding the crowds' attention?" But a BJP strategist told ET Advani's critique is "misplaced". "Every state unit is sending requests for Modi rallies," this leader said. "He's the biggest draw...right now, only Modi and Rajnath Singh are on the move."

Advani and Modi has had a strained relationship for months now, with the party elder famously quitting the party upon Modi's elevation as campaign committee chief in BJP's Goa conclave in June 2013.

Subsequently, when BJP named Modi as its PM candidate, Advani had stayed away from the party's parliamentary board meeting.