BJP gets angry critique for UP performance from parent body RSS

The BJP described its miserable performance in Uttar Pradesh as a wasted opportunity. Its parent body, the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), has a far more severe critique. In editorials in two different mouthpieces, the RSS said that "the lack of inspirational leadership" in Uttar Pradesh punished the BJP.

In the elections, whose results were declared on Tuesday, the BJP managed only 47 seats - four less than it won in the last state elections in 2007. Uttar Pradesh, desperate for a change, rejected the incumbent Mayawati in record numbers. But the BJP was not considered an option. Instead, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party made a triumphant return to power with a huge mandate.

The RSS said that the BJP was guilty of a disconnect with the people of the state, just like the Congress. "Core ideological issues, principled approach and credibility of leadership are needed to sway the voter. More than the party, the leader and more than the leader, his track record (performance) determines poll outcome these days," one of  its editorials said today.

The RSS also said that in UP, the party seemed to have a "bigger army of leaders than workers."

The RSS  says via its editorials that the BJP needs more leaders like Narendra Modi; the article praises the Chief Minister of Gujarat for his effective governance in his home state.

Mr Modi did not take part in the BJP's campaign in Uttar Pradesh. He was sulking because his bete noire, Sanjay Joshi, was given a major role in handling the party's affairs for the election. On record, the BJP has said that Mr Modi was preoccupied with his sadbhavana tour, a series of fasts across the state dedicated by Mr Modi to "communal harmony." The party has repeatedly been asked if Mr Modi, a charismatic campaigner, via his absence, hurt his party's chances. The BJP has said it will analyse and introspect the effect of Mr Modi's no-show.

The RSS' praise for Mr Modi comes as the party has been reiterating that he is among a group of six contenders for the BJP's prime ministerial candidate for the next general elections, scheduled for 2014. After the recent state elections, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said both her party and she anticipate early elections.

Mr Modi's ambitions for a transfer to the national political league are well known. However, the riots in Gujarat in 2002, the worst in independent India, have cast him as a leader who failed to protect his people. A series of court cases are determining whether Mr Modi can be held complicit for the riots. So far, he has not been indicted or held responsible by a special investigation team appointed by the Supreme Court.

Sushma Swaraj BJP leader slams Congress over Muslim quota row

Slamming the Congress over a minority sub-quota row, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj has said the former had committed a crime by dividing the country on religious grounds.

"The Congress has committed the crime of sowing the seeds of a second partition. Our Constitution does not allow religious reservations. We have given reservations to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes and the socially backward classes, but never religion-based reservations as it is not allowed," Swaraj told.

"This is because the fathers of our Constitution knew that religion-based reservations would divide the country on communal lines," Swaraj added.

BJP leader Rajnath Singh lashed out at Congress leaders for violating the Election Commission's code of conduct.

"I find it very disappointing that union ministers have the guts to challenge an institution like the Election Commission. The BJP stands against such behavior. They should respect the Election Commission because if their dignity is lowered intentionally, other constitutional institutions could face the same kind of threat," said Singh.

BJP leader's comments come after Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma and Law Minister Salman Khurshid said that if the Congress were to form the next state government, they would raise the sub quota for Muslims to nine per cent within the 27 per cent reservation meant for Other Backward Classes.