BJP chief to admit UP failure at national meet

BJP President Rajnath Singh will admit to his share of responsibility for the party's defeat in Uttar Pradesh when the party's National Executive meets in New Delhi later this month.

According to top sources in the party, Singh, anticipating an attack during the meet, will try to soften the impact of the criticism in his address to the executive.

"BJP state president Kesari Nath Tripathi will submit to the national executive a report on the reasons for the defeat of the party in the polls. Before any fingers are pointed at the party president, he intends to own up and soften any criticism that may come his way," said a source in the party.

Tripathi is expected to resign after he submits the report. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh had resigned days after after the results were announced.

Rajnath Singh, a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, had campaigned extensively in the polls, addressing nearly 200 or so election meetings in each phase of the seven-phase polls.

The party chief has his sympathisers too. "It is ridiculous that the party president should be solely blamed for the party's performance. If Singh has to take the blame, senior state leaders and the RSS, involved in the campaigning in a big way, should also accept their role in the defeat," said a source in the party.

In his address, Singh is also expected to speak on organisational matters with the party coming apart at the seams. "There will be a substantial portion on how everyone should pull together in the organisation," said a source in the party.

"Unfortunately for Rajnath Singh, this meeting comes just after two electoral defeats. While he was confident after the results of the Punjab and Uttarakhand elections, he is on the defensive after the results of the recent UP and Goa elections," said a source.

The National Executive will meet on June 25 and 26.