Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will make a comeback to BJP’s highest decision making body, the Parliamentary Board. A decision to this effect has been taken and an announcement is expected by Sunday. Along with this, the list of BJP’s central office bearers will also be out by Sunday.
“Modi will be the only Chief Minister in the body,” BJP sources told The Pioneer. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was also considered for this panel, but his entry would have necessitated dropping of an existing member. The panel consists of 11 members and currently there is one vacancy created after the demise of former Rajya Sabha member Bal Apte.
All eyes are also on the list of office bearers. Hectic discussions were on till late on Friday night to finalise the list. Sources claimed only three general secretaries — Ananth Kumar, Thawarchand Gehlot and JP Nadda — were expected to retain their post. General secretary (Organisation) Ramlal will also continue to serve the party in his present capacity. Out of total nine posts of GS, vacancies already exist to three posts vacated by Narendra Singh Tomar, Vijay Goel and Ravishankar Prasad. While Tomar and Goel became State presidents in Madhya Pradesh and Delhi, respectively, Prasad quit after being appointed party’s deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
Sources claimed former Gujarat Minister Amit Shah and Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi were almost sure to be inducted as general secretary.
There is a close tie between Rajya Sabha MPs from Bihar, Radha Mohan Singh and Rajiv Pratap Rudy, for the GS post. Similarly, there is a tough contest between Rajya Sabha member Prabhat Jha and former Chief Minister Uma Bharati for the general secretary’s post.
National secretary and former Delhi Mayor Arti Mehra is the front runner for the head of Mahila Morcha, currently held by Rajya Sabha meber Smriti Irani. Hamirpur MP Anurag Thakur is likely to remain as chief of party's youth wing.