Khurana is back in BJP - IndianExpress.Com

Khurana is back in BJP

Esha Roy

Posted online: Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 0016 hrs IST

New Delhi, March 26
After leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party in a huff last year, veteran leader Madan Lal Khurana is all set to re-enter the party fold. Senior leaders confirmed on Wednesday that the BJP has accepted Khurana’s “unconditional apology” to the party and party ideologue Lal Krishna Advani. But Khurana will not be given much power.

Khurana had left the BJP after a public standoff with Advani last year when he had accused the latter and other senior BJP leaders of backstabbing. “Khurana’s main contention at that point was that the party had never considered him for the top post in Delhi (that of CM) after he surrendered chief ministership following the Hawala scandal,” said a senior leader.

Khurana will join the party within the next two days, as soon as BJP president Rajnath Singh is back in Delhi. Party sources said Khurana had met Singh and Advani last month.

After leaving the BJP, Khurana had joined Uma Bharati’s Bharatiya Janashakti Party but the two fell out soon. “During the municipal polls, Khurana’s main ally was former BJP minister Rajinder Gupta who has now joined the Bahujan Samaj Party. The BSP turned down Khurana when he wanted to join them. He came back to the BJP once he saw there was no alternative for him. It is unlikely that he will be given any major role in the forthcoming Assembly elections,” said a BJP leader.

While Delhi leaders Prof V K Malhotra and Dr Harshvardhan reportedly opposed the move to re-induct the veteran leader, sources said his reinstatement was more of a sympathy gesture than a strategic election move.

Talking to Newsline, Madan Lal Khurana said: “As far as my joining the BJP is concerned, you will get to know when BJP president Rajnath Singh makes an announcement in the next couple of days. I will not like to make any comment right now.”

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Khurana is back in BJP Esha Roy Posted online: Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 0016 hrs IST New Delhi, March 26 After leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party in a huff last year, veteran leader Madan Lal Khurana is all set to re-enter the party fold. Senior leaders confirmed on Wednesday that the BJP has accepted Khurana’s “unconditional apology” to the party and party ideologue Lal Krishna Advani. But Khurana will not be given much power. Khurana had left the BJP after a public standoff with Advani last year when he had accused the latter and other senior BJP leaders of backstabbing. “Khurana’s main contention at that point was that the party had never considered him for the top post in Delhi (that of CM) after he surrendered chief ministership following the Hawala scandal,” said a senior leader. Khurana will join the party within the next two days, as soon as BJP president Rajnath Singh is back in Delhi. Party sources said Khurana had met Singh and Advani last month. After leaving the BJP, Khurana had joined Uma Bharati’s Bharatiya Janashakti Party but the two fell out soon. “During the municipal polls, Khurana’s main ally was former BJP minister Rajinder Gupta who has now joined the Bahujan Samaj Party. The BSP turned down Khurana when he wanted to join them. He came back to the BJP once he saw there was no alternative for him. It is unlikely that he will be given any major role in the forthcoming Assembly elections,” said a BJP leader. While Delhi leaders Prof V K Malhotra and Dr Harshvardhan reportedly opposed the move to re-induct the veteran leader, sources said his reinstatement was more of a sympathy gesture than a strategic election move. Talking to Newsline, Madan Lal Khurana said: “As far as my joining the BJP is concerned, you will get to know when BJP president Rajnath Singh makes an announcement in the next couple of days. I will not like to make any comment right now.”