BJP national meeting bears RSS influence

The RSS' influence on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be more visible than ever at the party's National Executive in Lucknow this weekend.

The signs are already there. Right from the choice of venues for various events to a complete departure from the earlier "five-star culture" that the party had adopted, the event has RSS stamp all over it.

While earlier national executives were held in big hotels, stadiums or elaborate sets designed by experts from the Mumbai film industry, this time, the event would be held at a convention centre constructed through funds provided by local area funds of former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who represents Lucknow in the Lok Sabha.

A modest building at medical chowk in Lucknow will be far cry from the five-star luxury of the previous executives.

What is more telling is the venue of the larger National Council meeting""Karala Nagar-based Saraswati Shishu Mandir, run by the RSS.

When the BJP was ruling at the Centre, the RSS maintained a safe distance from the party. With several RSS men on deputation to the party, that now appears to be a thing of the past.

The austerity measures have confused the RSS favourite, party president Rajnath Singh. Singh was supposed to host a lunch in Lucknow during the weekend for delegates attending the party function. His own residence in Lucknow was considered too small and a five-star hotel too flashy. Last heard, plans were very much in the air.

The change in style, it is being hoped, will bring the party good luck in the upcoming polls in Uttar Pradesh. The weekend will see the party kick off its campaign with a rally.

Party resolutions at the executive will concentrate on internal security and economic issues, especially the rise in prices.

However, the party is pinning most of its hopes on minortisym, a charge it expects will stick to the SP-led Mulayam Singh government as well as the UPA government at the Centre.