AMN /

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari has strongly defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party President Amit Shah over the debacle in Bihar Assembly Elections. Talking to media in Nagpur today, he said Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah cannot be held solely responsible for the party’s poor showing in the polls and it is the collective responsibility of party.

He ruled out Amit Shah’s ouster as BJP President in the wake of party’s defeat. Gadkari further said that he has already asked the party leadership to initiate stringent action against those making irresponsible statements.

On BJP veterans including L K Advani, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha and Shanta Kumar taking a stand against the top leadership, Gadkari said he would talk to Mr. Advani on the issue. Meanwhile, Yashwant Sinha met Advani at his residence in New Delhi today. The meeting came on the heels of war of words between party stalwarts and BJP leadership over the defeat.

Last night, in a joint statement, Mr Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha and Shanta Kumar had slammed party leadership for the electoral drubbing.