Venkaiah brought in as Advani's deputy

Apparently in a move to prepare the party for the elections in Kerala and possibly also in Tamil Nadu early next year, former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president M Venkaiah Naidu, was made vice-president of the party today.

Naidu had stepped down to make way for LK Advani to take over as the party president six months ago after the debacle in the Lok Sabha and the Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Naidu, who became the party president in 2003 after the resignation of Jana Krishnamurthy, quit the post in October last citing his wife's ill health. However, he was intensely involved in the party's affairs.

Naidu is considered Advani's right hand and will supplement the party chief's efforts to streamline the party and use the Naidu's talents, party leaders said.

The entire Jharkhand operation in which the BJP worked hard to form a National Democratic Alliance government despite an unfavourable political situation initially, was masterminded by Pramod Mahajan and Naidu, party leaders said.

"Advani had requested Naidu to take up the post despite the latter's stand that he would work for the party without any post. But on Advani's persuasion, Naidu accepted the post," party spokesman Arun Jaitley said.

In an aparent indication that he was reluctant to take up the post after having been the party chief, Naidu in the past few days had been referring to reports of his possible appointment as vice-president as "de-promotion".

With his present appointment, Naidu joins the team of eight other vice-presidents who include Kalyan Singh, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Babulal Marandi and Sushil Kumar Modi.

Theoretically, all vice-presidents are equal. However, Naidu is likely to be the first among equals. Party sources said he was likely to be given "important" responsibilities. He was the only one among them who had an understanding of and a grip over the politics of south India.

Despite his stance that he wanted to spend more time with his ailing wife, Naidu continued to remain active in the party affairs.

He not only attended crucial meetings including with the Rashtriya Swyamsevak Sangh but also acted as the party's pointman during the Jharkhand crisis and the recent talks with Gujarat dissidents who wanted that Chief Minister Narendra Modi be removed.