With his analysis of the reasons for the Bharatiya Janata Party's electoral defeat making waves in the party and upsetting the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the party and L K Advani on Monday distanced themselves from the comments made by Sudheendhra Kulkarni, a close aide of his.
"The BJP is not in agreement with and disassociates itself from what Sudheendhra Kulkarni has stated in the article. I had discussed the issue with Advani and he also does not agree with Kulkarni's views," senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said.
To a question, Swaraj said the views were that of an independent journalist and he has not written them after discussing the matter with Advani.
In his article, Kulkarni had written that the BJP performed badly in the elections as there was infighting and disarray in the top leadership, and suggested that the RSS had undermined Advani's leadership.
The RSS retaliated by saying that Kulkarni, who claims to be an insider, should have voiced his views in the party forum and not written it in the media. Advani himself had told the RSS that there was full cooperation from the organisation to the BJP in the run-up to the elections and he was satisfied with it, said RSS leader Ram Madhav.
Swaraj said Advani had asked Kulkarni why he had written the article, which was critical of the affairs in the BJP and RSS.
Madhav added that Kulkarni had come out with his analysis at a very inappropriate time and in a very inappropriate manner.
"We are familiar with his (Kulkarni's) views. Even in 2004, he had expressed similar views," Madhav said.
Kulkarni's views come at a time when relations between the RSS and BJP are said to be hunky-dory despite the electoral drubbing. RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is said to have given Advani a free hand to take all the necessary steps to tone up the party.
Advani and BJP president Rajnath Singh had met Bhagwat in New Delhi recently and discussed the reasons for the party's electoral defeat. However, Swaraj said the party will not take any action against Kulkarni as these were his personal views.
