PUNE, February 9: In a major political development, top Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) leaders on Sunday assured Pune Vikas Aghadi (PVA) candidate Suresh Kalmadi, who is sponsored by the BJP-Sena alliance, full support in the election.Kalmadi, whose candidature had generated strong resentment among the RSS circles initially, visited Motibaug, the RSS Maharashtra headquarters on Sunday morning.
He was accompanied by Aghadi corporator Ajit Apte and BJP's city unit general secretary Vijay Kale.
Top RSS leaders were present at Motibaug as the meeting was said to be arranged few days back.
Sources said Kalmadi sought the blessings of RSS leaders saying that he would work to ensure that Atal Behari Vajpayee becomes the prime minister. He reportedly requested RSS leaders to convince their cadre to work for him. Kalmadi also urged them to remove misunderstandings about him among the RSS volunteers.
Senior RSS leader Shripati Shastri, promising full RSS support to Kalmadi, pointed out that the RSS'attitude by and large supports BJP's line of thinking.
Besides Shastri, the meeting was attended by RSS Maharashtra Prant Sanghchalak Ashok Kukde, Damuanna Date, Bhikuji Idate, Pralhad Abhyankar, Makrand Lele, Vinayak Dambir and other local office-bearers. However, Anantrao Gogate, RSS Pune unit karywah and father-in-law of independent candidate Avinash Dharmadhikari was conspicuous by his absence. The RSS sources said Gogate was not present at the meeting as he had to attend some other function.
Kalmadi's visit to Motibaug and meeting with RSS leaders assumes significance as Dharmadhikari, who has strong RSS background, has rebelled against BJP's decision to support Kalmadi. Even though RSS leaders were clear on support to Kalmadi from the beginning, there has been speculation that several leaders were highly disturbed over the Kalmadi episode. Kalmadi's Motibaug visit is expected to stop the speculation among the political circles.
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
