While the spotlight is on the current spat between BJP president Rajnath Singh and general secretary Arun Jaitley, cases of high-profile intra-party rivalries hogged the headlines in the past too:

Kalyan Singh

After being expelled for “anti-party activities”, he rejoined the BJP in 2004. But in January 2009, he quit the party's primary membership, miffed that sitting MP from Bulandshahr Ashok Pradhan had been renominated. Kalyan had accused Pradhan of sabotaging his son Rajveer’s chances in the Assembly elections from Diboi seat in Aligarh district. He alleged that there was no place for OBC leaders in the BJP.

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat

Signalling his willingness to contest the Lok Sabha polls, he challenged the BJP's choice of Advani as prime ministerial candidate, declaring that the issue was not yet clinched. He later drove to Advani’s residence and had a cordial luncheon meeting.

Uma Bharti

Suspended from the BJP in 2004 following her public outburst against L K Advani. Expelled later in the year when she rebelled against Shivraj Singh Chouhan being appointed Madhya Pradesh chief minister.

Madan Lal Khurana

Suspended in March 2006 after he made public his decision to participate in Uma Bharti’s rally. Had been gradually sidelined after he was made to give up the chief minister’s post in the aftermath of the Hawala case in 1996.

K N Govindacharya

Credited with crafting the party's "social engineering" thesis, he quit the BJP in April 2003. He fell foul of the leadership, particularly Vajpayee, and his remark on the former prime minister being the party's "mukhauta" (mask) in 2002 was the last straw.

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