t the national conclave in Mumbai. Modi had made it clear to Nitin Gadkari, BJP national president, that Joshi had to go if he were to attend the conclave.
Political analysts say Joshi's departure will pave the way for Modi, who the RSS believes is best suited to become the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. It is also significant in the light of the two-day meeting of the BJP's Gujarat unit, beginning on Saturday, at Rajkot as it shows that Modi is the real boss.
Also, the RSS, some say, sees the party's future in the hands of Modi and Gadkari — who is unpopular among top leaders, including LK Advani. At the Mumbai conclave, the RSS had ensured that Gadkari got a second chance at the party president's post by tweaking the rules.
The Mumbai incident had brought to the fore the split in the party ranks. It had sharply divided the BJP and the RSS as well. Sources said the RSS is likely to rehabilitate Joshi as the general secretary of its affiliate unit, the Bharatiya Itihaas Parishad.
Sushil Kumar Modi, senior BJP leader, said on Friday "no one should try to hijack the BJP and force a decision on it".
Joshi's resignation seems like a logical culmination of a series of events. When Gadkari gave Joshi charge of UP elections, Modi made his displeasure known by not addressing a single rally. Then the Mumbai incident happened. And a few days ago, posters slamming Modi, without naming him, and praising Joshi appeared in Delhi and Ahmedabad. Though the BJP disowned the posters, there was little doubt Joshi's supporters were involved. Kamal Sandesh, a BJP magazine, recently criticised Modi, without naming him. No leader should consider himself or herself bigger than the party, the magazine said in an editorial.