RSS searches for Advani's alternative

Sangh has drawn a list of 87 BJP leaders for consultation to determine the successor

The power struggle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over who controls the party appears to be far from over. Tri-ggered by BJP chief LK Advani's "ideological deviations", the RSS had launched a consultative process within the BJP to determine his successor, Sangh sources said.

As Business Standard had reported, Advani had indicated to a team of RSS functionaries that he was the party president, and that he would consider resigning only if the BJP made such a demand.

Sources confirmed that a list of 87 BJP leaders and fun-ctionaries has been drawn by the RSS, and the process of consulting them on who the next BJP chief, is going to be on. "One of the main reasons the BJP second-rung leadership was reluctant to see a change in guard was the TINA (there is no alternative) factor," said a top RSS functionary.

"If problems arose with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Advani is the alternative. But in Advani's case, the alternative is the main problem," he added.

The RSS functionary said Advani's defiance despite clear hints by the RSS that he should go had hurt the image of the organisation. "The matter has not ended yet," he said.

But the Sangh refused to put a definite time-table for Advani's removal, although top BJP leaders were seen visiting the Keshav Kunj, the Delhi headquarters of the RSS, even today.

Former Prime Minister Vajpayee and Advani have adopted a "wait-and-watch" policy. At a condolence meeting in remembrance of former Gujarat Governor Sunder Singh Bhandari, an old-school RSS pracharak and co-founder of the Jan Sangh, both delivered rather neutral speeches.

No references were made to Bhandari's last interview on the Gujarat riots, nor to the troubles being faced by the party.

Advani, who had spoken of holding on to "courage of conviction" at a book release function right after his resignation drama between June 6-10, seemed to have decided to hold his place as far as this particular round of hostilities are concerned.

It was left to Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to raise the matter. "When I went to meet Bhandar in his last days, it was apparent that he was aware that these (BJP-RSS) difficulties were ahead of us. He told me that not just the BJP, the country, too, will be going through a tough time," said Shekhawat.

"He has left us in these difficult times, when we need to be reminded of the ideals which led to the formation of the Jan Sangh," he said.

On another front, the developments at the Chennai national executive of the BJP will be keenly followed, given the state of affairs. RSS functionaries felt the meet was not likely to be turbulent but prophesied that "it is unlikely that Advani will complete his fifth term as BJP president".

Meanwhile, Uma Bharti today met the RSS leadership at the Sangh headquarters in Nagpur to apparently discuss the strained BJP-RSS relations and strategy for polls in Bihar but declined to disclose anything.

"I will not make any statements. We have not discussed politics," she said emerging from the meeting with RSS chief KS Sudarshan and general secretary Mohan Bhagwat.