Date:14/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/14/stories/2007011416850300.htm

New Delhi

Khurana's return to BJP imminent

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

`He still has the charisma and following to draw voters to polling booths'

NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Chief Minister and expelled Bharatiya Janata Party leader Madan Lal Khurana's return to his familiar old party appears imminent now with some BJP leaders saying he might be given another chance ahead of the upcoming elections for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Mr. Khurana, who had served the party for almost five decades before he fell out with its central leadership last year after accusing L. K. Advani of running the party like a public limited company, had been making strong moves to seek his return to the party fold.

During the past month he is learnt to have met South Delhi MP and Delhi in-charge Vijay Kumar Malhotra and party president Rajnath Singh on several occasions. Though he also tried to make amends with Mr. Advani, he was not granted an audience with him.

Senior Delhi BJP leaders insist that Mr. Khurana has been making every possible effort to stage a comeback. "There is a talk that he wants to be with the BJP till the very last.''

However, some party leaders believe that his return would breed indiscipline. "He had been expelled earlier also, but he did not reform himself. And if he still comes back, then what would be wrong with Uma Bharti's return? How long can you allow people to speak out against the leadership and still expect pardon?''

On the other hand, there are others who believe that Mr. Khurana still has the charisma and the following to draw the traditional BJP voters to the polling booths. "He takes up issues that touch the hearts of people. That is what sets him apart,'' said a senior party leader.

"With the MCD elections now due in March, it is probably the best time for Mr. Khurana to return to the party fold. He can still tilt the scales in the battle of the ballot,'' said a Khurana supporter, adding that the Punjabi votes could prove crucial in the MCD polls which are likely to be a closely contested affair especially after the delimitation of seats and increase in the number of wards from 134 to 272.

For his part, Mr. Khurana acknowledged that he was in talks with senior BJP leaders. "Talks are going on at various levels. Let's hope things work out well,'' he said. Mr. Khurana is understood to have the backing of some RSS leaders as well. And this may also have a bearing on the final outcome of his efforts.