Hardline Hindutva ebbs with Gujarat CM's name 17th on the star campaigners' list and firebrand Varun Gandhi finding no mention
The octogenarian leader was responsible for bringing together 20-odd parties in the NDA giving the BJP its only chance to rule the country. But due to multiple health problems and senility, Vajpayee had excused himself from active politics and did not attend any political or election rally to garner support for the party in the last general elections. His name also did not feature in the list of star campaigners submitted for the polls.
Though Advani was number one on the star campaigners' list submitted for the general elections, the order has now been revised.
Modi at #17
Interestingly, Narendra Modi is at number 17 and Hindutva's new poster boy Varun Gandhi is absent from the list. This goes on to explain how the 'chintan' has resulted in pushing hardline Hindutva to a corner.
A close aide to Vajpayee told MiD DAY that he is doing fine now and meeting people "regularly", but he did not confirm whether the veteran leader will return to active campaigning. "We have not received any detailed programme for Vajpayeeji from the party," he said.
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Emotional bond
Ever since the party was defeated in the last general elections and its reported failure to keep the NDA constituents together, there have been demands to bring back Vajpayee. Political analysts had blamed Advani for failing to attract allies as well as not being as acceptable as his celebrated predecessor.
"The BJP shares an emotional bond with Atalji. The party cannot keep him out of the list of star campaigners.
However, his physical constitution does not allow him to attend political meetings and campaign for the party," said Shyam Jaju, in-charge of the BJP headquarters. The list bears his signature.
When asked why Vajpayee's name was missing from the list in the last general elections, Jaju said his name was there though he did not come out to campaign due to health concerns. However, the list, a copy of which is with MiD DAY, submitted to the EC before the last Lok Sabha elections, did not have Vajpayee's name. The list started with Advani's name.
BJP vice president and spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the party may use Vajpayee's charm in the audio-visual format. "I don't think his health will allow him to remain physically present at the campaign meetings," he said.
Vajpayee has not attended a public meeting for more than a year.
Star Campaigner
Each recognised political party has to submit a list of 40 people to the Election Commission who will campaign for the party. The list is mandatory under the Explanation 1(a) read with Explanation 2 under sub-section (1) of Section 77 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
The expenses incurred by these campaigners are not counted in individual candidate's account for the purpose of audit by the Commission.
BJP's Top 10
1. Atal Behari Vajpayee
2. LK Advani
3. Rajnath Singh
4. Dr Murli Manohar Joshi
5. M Venkaiah Naidu
6. Arun Jaitley
7. Sushma Swaraj
8. Ananth Kumar
9. Ram Lal
10. Balasaheb Apte
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Shiv Sena Top 10
1. Bal Thackeray
2. Uddhav Thackeray
3. Manohar Joshi
4. Liladhar Dake
5. Madhukar Sarpotdar
6. Subhash Desai
7. Dattaji Nalawade
8. Diwakar Rawate
9. Ramdas Kadam
10. Sanjay Raut
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