As the BJP settled down to brainstorm its strategy for the 2014 general elections at its three-day Goa conclave on Friday, its top leaders are expected to make every effort to develop a consensus on giving greater national role to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting of BJP’s national executive from Saturday is scheduled to discuss the “political, economic and internal security” situation in the country, but top on their agenda is to settle the leadership issue by working out some kind of an arrangement that sends a clear message to party workers without annoying any ally.
In the run up to the meet, BJP chief Rajnath Singh had unofficially started deliberations with top leaders of the party on the possibility of Narendra Modi being made the chief of the campaign committee at the national-level.
This issue was to be officially brought before other senior leaders at the meeting of the extended office-bearers on Friday. Sources claim backroom discussions were still on to arrive at a consensus on Modi’s name. However, the issue could not be taken up for consideration in the absence of veteran lK Advani, who did not turn up
for the Friday meeting on
health grounds.
Advani’s absence on Friday and reports that his supporters like Uma Bharati, Jaswant Singh, Yashwant Sinha and others have also decided to skip the
National Executive Meeting led to media speculation that there was difference within the party on Modi’s projection at the national level.
Sources said that because of his health, Advani may not turn up at Goa at all. In that case, the party may find it difficult to make any formal announcement on Modi. However, the leadership also faces pressure from various quarters to end the uncertainty on the Modi issue.
“Media is reading too much into the absence of certain leaders. Only Uma Bharti has sought permission to skip the meet. Only on Saturday, when the meet begins, we would be able to tell you who turned up and who did not,” BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi said.
A top leader is believed to have propped up the idea of making Modi incharge of the campaign panels in five Assembly elections — Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Delhi — to be held later this year.
“It has been suggested that a categorical announcement be made that any such committee would work under the leadership of Rajnath Singh,” sources claimed.
A section of the party has flagged worries about the fallout of Modi’s national assignment on stability and expansion plans of the NDA. This group has apparently argued that the NDA can certainly not afford to lose an ally (read JD-U) ahead of crucial Assembly elections. However, whether Modi will agree to hold charge for the
campaign in States and not at the national level is highly doubtful.
While some party leaders want that a decision be suspended for a while, few of them want to leave Goa without clarity on this issue. “Both leaders and cadres want a clarity on Modi’s role in the 2014 elections,” said a senior party leader.