New Delhi: Apparently not in agreement with the cold shoulder given to some senior leaders in the last one year, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has told the BJP not to write off anybody because of age.
In surprise comments at the BJP's national executive, the 82-year-old party veteran remarked that experience sharpens with age.
Vajpayee's remarks are taken as a strong rebuttal to the criticism by a section of party leaders and also a columnist who is considered close to Sangh Parivar that the aged top leadership of the party was steadfastly refusing to transfer authority.
Vajpayee remarks have provided a comfort zone for his trusted associate for five decades, Leader of Opposition LK Advani and a large number of leaders and workers who are all 60 plus. DNA has spoken to a number of leaders.
Older leaders at the grass root level unanimously back Vajpayee. However, they have refused to go on record because they do not want to go publicly against the younger generation.
"Only Vajpayee could do it. He has said what we have been feeling all along. The two leaders, Vajpayee and Advani need to be persisted at the top. They are still the most respected and acceptable face of the BJP. It is for the younger leaders to decide how best they could utilise their services," a senior party leader who has been working in the North-East said.
There is, however, a clear divide among the younger leaders. A RSS nominee and third rung leader appeared pleased with Vajpayee's remarks because "it killed the overt ambitions of some second generation leaders.
Vajpayee did a 9/11 to them and their aspirations have turned to Ground Zero."
But not all are happy. A second generation leader, who aspires to attain greater heights, said "Vajpayee should not have made the statement. It was not warranted."
Vajpayee's comments came in the backdrop of expulsion from the party of its senior leaders like Sangh Priya Gautam, Madan Lal Khurana, Babu Lal Marandi and Tapan Sikdar.
Most of those who have been expelled believe they were reduced to non-entities by some influential politicians in the party's second-rung leadership.
