Munde back in BJP fold, party sacks his rival

New Delhi: After over two days of infighting in Maharashtra’s BJP unit, party General Secretary Gopinath Munde called a truce and withdrew his resignation.

Munde gave in after Madhu Chavan was removed from Mumbai president's post. It is believed that Munde was apparently upset with the choice of Chavan as the Mumbai unit chief.

Chavan's post goes to Gopal Shetty, Maharashtra state party President Nitin Gadkari said.

Munde met party chief Rajnath Singh in Delhi on Tuesday. BJP was faced with a choice between its popular public face in Maharashtra and other leaders who they believe should have a stake in state politics.

Munde had earlier said that “the state unit should not be run like someone's kitchen cabinet and decisions should be made democratically.”

The party General Secretary’s political rhetoric had sent BJP into a tizzy and it took three days for the party leaders to douse the fire.

For the BJP, it was an issue that had to be resolved at all costs. Letting Munde go could mean losing 64 BJP legislators, and 34 district party heads in Maharashtra who support him. Sixteen corporators from Pune had already put in their papers after Munde’s resignation.

Meanwhile, Munde has found a confidante in Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray.

An article in Sena mouthpiece Saamna on Tuesday morning said that it would be good for the Sena-BJP combine in Maharashtra if the BJP amicably sorts out issues with Munde.

It also said that this was the biggest crisis the BJP has faced in the state with their tallest leader submitting his resignation and preferring to continue as an ordinary worker.

The BJP-Shiv Sena alliance in Maharashtra was given a strong foundation by the late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan and was nurtured by Munde, the article said.

However, Munde told CNN-IBN, “After Pramod’s (Mahajan) death I have nobody to talk to. I met Balasaheb Thackeray and told him how I feel.”

2006 was not only when Munde lost his brother-in-law Pramod Mahajan, but also his post of Maharashtra state BJP chief to his nemesis Nitin Gadkari.

Gadkari's steady rise and authoritative style of decision making has been the proverbial last straw for Munde, but now he is holding his cards close to his chest and Tuesday's decision showed that the BJP is willing to go to any level to placate this latest rebel.