Mumbai/New Delhi: Both the BJP and its spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Monday got into damage control mode following a huge embarrassment to the party after Rudy's remarks that he was opposed to the party tying up with the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) to form a coalition government in the state.
Under attack over the tie-up decision, BJP President Nitin Gadkari said that it was the Congress and not JMM chief Shibu Soren who was responsible for corruption in politics.
Rudy, who at a meeting of the BJP's student wing in Kolkata on December 26 had expressed reservations over the party aligning with Soren, sought to wriggle out of the controversy triggered by his remarks.
He said his statement that the BJP should sit in the Opposition in Jharkhand was his personal opinion, and his remarks were made before the alliance with JMM was formed.
He said he was "firmly in agreement with the leadership's decision" on the issue.
The Rajya Sabha member also maintained that at that juncture when he had made his remarks, the BJP Parliamentary Board in Delhi had been exploring three options: staying out of the government and sitting in the Opposition, supporting the government from outside, or joining and being part of the government.
"The decision to take any one of the options had been left to the party's central leadership visiting Jharkhand and was taken in consultation with the state leadership," Rudy said.
Rudy added that it was decided to form a government in Jharkhand with JMM and AJSU after assessing the ground realities.
"The party has taken a stand and I am with the party," he stated.
Gadkari, who received Soren in the BJP office in Mumbai on Monday, said Rudy has not not said any thing as was being reported. He added, "It is enough to say this much at this juncture."
He defended the party's decision to support JMM leader Shibu Soren saying stability and interests of the people of that state were the only concerns.
About Soren's conviction in a murder case and the party's criticism of Soren then, Gadkari said he has been acquitted by courts and it was natural in a democracy to form alliances.
Talking to reporters, the BJP President said it was the Congress and not Soren who was responsible for corruption in politics. "The courts have also taken a decision in his (Soren's) favour," he said.
Gadkari said BJP had no option but to support Soren to provide a stable government in the interest of the people of the state.
The alliance partners will prepare a common programme for governance.
Soren himself said the new alliance comprising BJP, AJSU and his party would provide a stable government in the state.
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