BJP gears up for new party chief

Rajnath Singh all set to replace LK Advani, national executive begins in Mumbai today.

Election of the next party president is set to dominate proceedings at the two-day national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) starting in Mumbai tomorrow. The national executive will be followed by a three-day silver jubilee convention ending on December 30.

While the party is learnt to have reached a consensus on the name of BJP general secretary Rajnath Singh to succeed LK Advani, there is no official confirmation as yet. Advani is likely to formally step down as party chief on December 30 or the next day, according to BJP sources.

BJP General Secretary Pramod Mahajan has, however, said there will not be any "resignation or coronation" during the five-day event.

Apart from discussions on political, economic and foreign affairs issues facing the country, the convention will discuss the "influence of foreign money" on politics.

"Discussions will include the party's success in Gujarat and Bihar Assembly polls, forthcoming Assembly polls in Pondicherry, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam, and the performance of governments in either ruled by the BJP or where the BJP is in the opposition," party spokesperson Prakash Jawedkar said.

But, official assertions apart, the election of the next party president is going to dominate the agenda at Mumbai, especially in the wake of reports about the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister set to take the BJP mantle from Advani.

After hectic consultations between the BJP's brass and Rashtriya Swaymsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders yesterday, Singh's name was said to have been finalised as the next party president.

The other contenders for the post were Murli Manohar Joshi, who was backed by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and M Venkaiah Naidu, who was favoured by the outgoing president, according to sources. Singh, however, surged ahead in the race with the backing of the RSS, they said. Vajpayee was also said to have given his blessings to him.

Meanwhile, with the party leadership taking exception to the media leaks about his selection as the next BJP chief, Singh today said he had no information in this regard. Reports emanating in this connection in the media "are not authentic", he told reporters.

Both Advani and Naidu have denied reports about Singh's name having been cleared for the top post. "I have nothing to say because no decision has been taken," said Advani. "Informal discussions are still going on. No name has been finalised.

Advani is still the BJP president," Naidu, who was said to have opted out of the race, told reporters in Chennai. Mahajan has ruled out any change in the party leadership during the national executive but added that Advani could take a decision after that.

"It could be December 31 or even later, but not at least during the six-day party national executive and convention," Mahajan told reporters in Mumbai. He said that Advani has already announced that he would resign after the Mumbai national executive and party convention.

Replying to a question, Mahajan said the new party chief would continue till 2007, and later the party can endorse the leadership for another term.