BJP meets on poll strategy

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee presided over two rounds of chintan baithak (brain-storming sessions) of senior BJP leaders at his residence to evolve an effective mechanism to harness the collective energies of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its organisations for the Lok Sabha elections.

In the long sessions, 10-odd senior party leaders gave their piece of mind on the party's strategy to forge alliance with new parties.

Apparently, there was a strong suggestion to rope in Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)- Shibu Soren to bolster the party's sagging fortune in Jahrkhand.

Similarly, the rehabilitation of Kalyan Singh is considered as a foregone conclusion as top leaders only deliberated about how to make maximum use of Singh's OBC appeal in the state elections.

Obviously, Singh is expected to head the BJP's campaign, which will be focussed on strident anti-Mulayam theme. In other states also, there were suggestion to co-opt smaller sub-regional groups which could affect the BJP's prospects adversely.

But besides deliberating on the electoral strategy, the party's top leadership also took stock of the political impact caused by the financial packages announced by the government.

That the BJP leadership is bending backwards to please-all is evident by the declaration of BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu that the government will come out the financial package for weaker sections of the upper castes shortly.

The significant aspect of the session is the realisation of the BJP leadership that the party could fare well only if it could pool in resources of the Sangh Parivar and make effective use of them before the polls.

Arun Jaitley and Pramod Mahajan were entrusted with the task of drawing a detailed strategy to co-ordinate with the Sangh Parivar in a manner as to maximise the benefits as they had done in the assembly polls.

Another round of discussion with top RSS leaders would be held on January 28 to give a shape to the strategy.