Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s arch rival Sanjay Joshi, who had earlier resigned from the BJP’s National Executive Committee, on Friday resigned as party’s in-charge for Uttar Pradesh.

Clarifying on the move, BJP’s former general secretary said, “I have resigned as party’s in-charge for Uttar Pradesh after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi threatened to quit the party. I have done this in the best interest of the party.”

He also clarified that he had not resigned from party’s primary membership but stated that he had asked the BJP chief to relieve him from all his responsibilities.

Earlier, BJP sources also claimed that Joshi has requested BJP president Nitin Gadkari to relieve him from the party and his request has been accepted.

No official confirmation has been made by the party as yet in this regard.

Joshi voluntarily quit the BJP national executive ahead of its meeting in Mumbai last month owing to incorrigible differences with the firebrand Gujarat Chief Minister.

Acceptance of Joshi’s resignation was then seen as an effort by the party president to buy peace with Narendra Modi.

It is to be noted that both Modi and Joshi – a RSS-backed leader - have not been on best of terms for quite some time. Modi was miffed with Gadkari for giving Joshi, his rival, a place in the decision making national executive.

Modi had skipped last BJP meeting held in Delhi apparently due to differences with Gadkari on the issue of re-induction of Sanjay Joshi, a known detractor of Modi, in the party. He had also not campaigned in the UP polls.

However, it is still not clear whether Joshi will join other political party or float his own party to settle his political rivalry with the Hindutva leader.