Advani has presided over the party affairs for more than two decades. But he never allowed any president to function more than two years. Except M Venkaiah Naidu, who is seen as `dummy’ of Advani, no president was allowed to function without hurdles.

Unlike other former presidents, Gadkari was chosen against to the wishes of Advani. Normally every one expected that after party’s worst performance in the last Lok Sabha elections, Advani would keep away from party leadership paving way for new generation. But he would not abide on his own words to keep away from the position of Leader of Opposition, even for 24 hours.

This has forced Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leadership to intervene and told Advani it is time for his exit from active politics. Advani tried to put some of his own person like Venkaiah Naidu or Arun Jaitly as party president. But RSS leadership said no and insisted that no one from the present party leaders based in Delhi should be given chance to lead the party.

RSS has given some criteria to lead the party. First they should not be from present Delhi-based leaders, their age should be below 55 years and they should not identify with any group in the party. They asked Advani to give some of such names.

Originally it was only Advani suggested the names of Gadkari and former Goa Chief Minister Parkar. He had never imagined that RSS goes to the extent of putting state-level leader, who had never hold any position at all-India level would be picked up to lead the party at national level. When RSS picked up Gadkari, Advani was stunned. He has deputed Venkaiah Naidu to Nagpur requesting to re-think about their choice.

During several conversations held with his senior colleagues in the party in recent times, Advani has openly expressed his `displeasure’ over RSS interference into BJP affairs. He was unable to digest that RSS asked him to quit from active. It was originally RSS picked him some two decades ago against Vajpayee and made him hero in `rath yatra’.

But the same RSS asked him to quit party presidentship when he had made unceremonious comments against Jinna during his Pakistan tour in his ambition to become `acceptable’ like Vajpayee for prime ministerial position.

It was the second time that with out Advani’s `approval’ a leader was allowed to head the party. Earlier it was the case of Bangaru Lakshman, a dalit leader picked up by Vajpayee. From the day one of Lakshman’s regime as party chief, Advani and his associates maintained an attitude of non-cooperation.

Infamous sting operation again Bangaru Lakshman Tehalka was also suspected by many in the party as the plot hatched by Advani’s team. Arun Jaitly’s close association with Tehalka team is now known by every one.

Even Rajnath Singh was also not a favourate of Advani. He had not dared enough to establish himself as a leader in the party ignoring Advani. Unlike earlier party presidents, Gadkari has the advantage of his grassroots’ experiences and also name he has earned as PWD Minister in Maharashtra government as a `performer’ and also a `task master’. It seems now he is planning to adopt same techniques to bring out the party from the present mess.

Gadkari seems to be open in his options. He is telling senior party leaders that he has not group in the party and he is ready to encourage every one who works for the party. “I give importance for performance rather than their loyalty to individual leaders”, are his comments with some of the party leaders.

Such attitude will certainly put Advani camp in defense. Somehow, Advani succeeded in putting his own team in the parliamentary party. Both Sushma Swaraj and Jaitly, who are leading the party in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, respectively are his own choices. But these selections are likely to give bad signals to the party image at grassroots’ level.

As Gadkari, Sushma and Jaitly hails from same upper caste, any attempt to attract weaker sections and marginalised sections may not win confidence of the people. It was Govindacharya’s `social engineering’ concept had encouraged BC leadership in 80s and helped the party to won over in some states. Later, Vajpayee tried to use `SC’ card by picking up Bangaru Lakshman.

But Advani was not comfortable with these efforts. He had never allowed leaders like Kalyan Singh, Shankar Singh Vaghela, Uma Bharathi and Madan Lal Khurana, with grassroot image to occupy prime positions in the party. Now, the acid test before Gadkari will be how far he can assert his position in the party and strengthen the party ignoring pressures from Advani’s team.