NDA meet to decide next convenor today

The meeting of the NDA leaders tomorrow to discuss the alliance's poll readiness has one unnamed agenda ""deciding who will be the next convenor of the alliance.

The names doing the rounds include incumbent George Fernandes' partyman, Janata Dal (U) leader Sharad Yadav. Yadav and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar have expressed their desire that this prestigious post remain with the party.

Their claim is that apart from the BJP, the JD(U) is the only party that has a presence outside one state.

The other name doing the rounds in Akali Dal chief and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Earlier, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's name was also suggested but inexplicably dropped.