US embassy cable - 05NEWDELHI4270

C O N F I D E N T I A L NEW DELHI 004270 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/07/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PINR, IN, PK, Indian Domestic Politics 
SUBJECT: ADVANI RESIGNATION THROWS THE BJP INTO TURMOIL 
 
REF: NEW DELHI 4232 
 
Classified By: Charge Bob Blake, for Reasons 1.4 (B, D) 
 
1.  (U) BJP President LK Advani threw his party into turmoil 
on June 7 when he abruptly announced his resignation after a 
tempest erupted following his recent visit to Pakistan 
(Reftel).  In his letter of resignation Advani stood by his 
remarks in Pakistan praising the country's founder Muhammad 
Ali Jinnah, maintaining that "I have not done and said 
anything in Pakistan that I need to review," and that his 
resignation would be in the party's best interest. 
 
2.  (U) The press reported that a number of BJP leaders have 
attempted to convince Advani to withdraw his resignation. 
Describing the reactions of some hard-line Hindu nationalists 
in the party allied to the RSS and VHP to his statements in 
Pakistan as "most unfortunate," he insisted that he would not 
withdraw his resignation.  Advani purportedly told party 
colleagues that he was particularly hurt by statements from 
VHP leader Pravin Togadia labeling him a "traitor."  Former 
Prime Minister Vajpayee, who is currently vacationing in 
Himachal Pradesh, has cut short his trip and is returning to 
New Delhi to meet with senior party leaders. 
 
3.  (C) Embassy contacts report that should attempts to get 
Advani to withdraw his resignation fail, the BJP will turn to 
selecting a successor.  The Sangh Parivar (Hindu family of 
organizations) purportedly hopes to convince the BJP to name 
its candidate Ram Manohar Joshi to the post, with party 
moderates backing former party President Venkaiah Naidu. 
Post will provide detailed analysis septel. 
BLAKE