Caught in a raging controversy over his business dealings, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday landed in Mumbai amid rousing welcome by over 2000 party workers here.
Gadkari is also expected to address a massive rally in Mumbai where he is expected to defend the corruption charges leveled against him.
The embattled BJP chief arrived in Mumbai after skipping a crucial meeting with party leaders from Karnataka where former chief minister BS Yeddyurappa remains firm on quitting the party ahead of next year’s Assembly polls.
Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar accompanied by two Deputy Chief Ministers and several ministers flew to New Delhi early Tuesday to meet Gadkari and other party leaders in one more attempt to placate Yeddyurappa sulking at being denied state party presidentship.
Shortly after the Karnataka leaders reached the national capital, the BJP issued a statement saying, “The BJP president has authorised Arun Jaitley, Leader of Opposition, Rajya Sabha; and Dharmendra Pradhan, party general secretary, to meet leaders of Karnataka and review the political situation in the state on his behalf, as he is busy in consultation with legal experts in Nagpur and Mumbai.”
Gadkari’s decision to task Jaitley to lead the efforts to resolve the Karnataka impasse followed his skipping the poll campaign in Himachal Pradesh, apparently as he is under increasing pressure over allegations of massive irregularities in running his companies.
The BJP president did not go to poll-bound Himachal Pradesh for a second round of campaigning. Sources close to Gadkari said that the visit had been cancelled to work out legal strategies against a vilification campaign by a section of the media.
Gadkari is facing allegations of dubious funding in companies controlled by him.
Gadkari has threatened to file civil and criminal cases against some media houses for “defaming” him and alleged that they were playing into the hands of the Congress.
BJP sources said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is in a wait and watch mode over allegations concerning Gadkari and there are doubts about his getting a second term as BJP president.
Meanwhile, the Income Tax authorities have also begun probing the premises of firms which allegedly invested in the companies controlled by Gadkari.
–IANS