02 June,2011 06:26 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Despite show-cause notice sent to him by BJP for speaking against Vikas Mathkari's appointment as city unit chief, senior party member Yogesh Gogawale says he will take the matter to national leader
Senior BJP member Yogesh Gogawale is in no mood to listen to anyone but L K Advani. The BJP's city unit general secretary said he would not mind going as far as Lucknow to meet Advani and get his demands acquiesced to.
Piqued: Yogesh Gogawale, BJP's city unit general secretary
Gogawale was elected as a member of the Pune Municipal Corporation in the 1980s. He played an important role as the party's city general secretary in 2001. A strong contender for the post of the party's city unit chief, Gogawale called Vikas Mathkari's appointment to the post an "unjustified" and "undemocratic" decision, as it was done by voting over the telephone and all the voters were not consulted.u00a0u00a0
BJP national leader Venkaiah Naidu had compiled a report in Febraury regarding how the city unit president should be selected. Gogawale has demanded that the report be published by the party. Suresh Manguntiwar, the state party president, issued a show-cause notice to Gogawale for deprecating the party's decision.
Excerpts from Gogawale's interview.
This is the first show-cause notice slapped by the party against you...
I am aware of the notice and shall reply accordingly. I am only asking the party to publish the report.
What is the report you want published?
I believe in democracy. My humble request to the party high command is to publish the report on the voting procedures adopted while electing the city unit president. The process of defining voters and also the probable candidates took place five months ago on January 5, 2011. Venkaiah Naidu, the former national president, prepared the report. The state BJP should publish the report.
What difference will it make when party has officially announced the city unit president?
What is the harm in publishing the report prepared by Naidu? In fact, it shall be more logical to the in-party democracy scenario.
You mean to say that Mathkari appointment was against the democratic norms?
I don't want to make any comment and also not talk on Mathkari. In the telephonic election seven voters including me were not asked our opinions, nor any formal notice was issued about the election.u00a0
What is your stand, if the party is not willing to do so?
The only option before me is to go meet Lal Krishna Advaniji, the former BJP national level president. I may even leave for Lucknow where BJP's national convention is on going. Now, I am not in a mood to listen anybody other than Advaniji.
Are you going alone to meet him?
My views are supported by party MLA Madhuri Misal, Anil Shirole, Dilip Jadhav, Murlidhar Mohol, Mukesh Gawli, Sunita and Gopal Chintal, Shrinath Bhimale and many more. I may go alone or with others to meet Advaniji.
vikas mathkari reacts...
Will you meet Gogawale after this episode?
Yes, I had a good association with Yogeshji and we have shared good friendly relations in the past. I have no hang ups but will certainly meet him and try to address all his misunderstanding.
Can this rift create major problems in the BJP city unit?
Differences in the party are always there. BJP believes in democracy and I was elected in the same way. My efforts will be to project BJP as a united party in the upcoming elections.
Do Nitin Gadkari and Gopinath Munde factions still exist in the party?
This is rubbish. We are all one. Our efforts shall be to win maximum seats in the coming municipal election by whole heartedly working together.
