Advani to name team on Oct 27

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office here today wore a festive look as LK Advani took charge as the party president even as speculation on new team ran rife. Advani was accompanied by wife Kamala and daughter Pratibha and outgoing president M Venkaiah Naidu as he took charge.

The party's national council will meet here on October 27 to endorse Advani's appointment as the new party chief, where he will also announce his new team. Needless to say the party organisation will be given a new look to face what Advani called "a challenging time ahead".

According to sources, Advani will drop some people from the current team. Top among those, expected to go, are vice-president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Bal Apte and Shivraj Singh Chauhan.

Naqvi has never been close to Advani, while Chauhan's departure will be necessitated if Uma Bharati is accommodated in the central party structure. Chauhan could be offered the post of Madhya Pradesh party chief, sources said.

Shahnawaz Hussain might be roped in to fill Naqvi's spot, sources said.

"The one person from the second line of leadership, who has emerged strong in the entire episode is Arun Jaitley, he will be given important assignments," sources said. Pramod Mahajan's star is supposed to be on the wane.

Another leader guaranteed to find a post in the new set-up is Kalyan Singh who was close to Advani before he left the BJP and later rejoined.

Advani who commands an unparalleled respect among the party rank and file, will have his work cut out for him: revive a demoralised party and rein in and channelise the ambitions of its second ranking leaders.

The open blood letting of a succession war will have to cease.

While the actual team will be known on October 27, the BJP cadre was out in full force to welcome the new president.

Besides members of the national council, the meeting to be held at the Talkotara Stadium would be attended by all party MPs, MLAs, MLCs, district presidents, elected chairmen and vice-chairmen of municipalities, office-bearers of all state units and members of the outgoing working committee.