The BJP yesterday decided to hold the party's presidential election in November unless there is a contingency, like a mid-term poll.
As per the election schedule passed by the national executive meeting, the party's organisational elections at the state level would be complete by October 31. The executive authorised party president LK Advani to appoint a returning officer.
The state units have been asked to chart out a schedule for the ward, mandal and district level elections. The membership drive is to end on May 31.
This time the BJP may change some of the rules for conducting elections. A three-member committee of party vice president SS Bhandari, general secretary Kushabhau Thakre and secretary Narendra Modi are working since the last six months to suggest these changes, party spokesperson Sushma Swaraj said.
One of the likely changes could be to stagger filing of nominations and voting by 24 hours. At present both the things take place on the same day, thereby creating a lot of inconvenience, she said.
The executive meeting authorised Advani to accept the changes on its behalf. In absence of such authorisation the executive was required to endorse the changes. However, the authorisation was not for changing the party constitution although the committee may recommend such changes, Swaraj clarified. A change in the party constitution can be done only by the party's national council, she pointed out.
