NEW DELHI, Sep 2: Seeking a consensus on Narendra Modi’s projection as the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, RSS has held talks with top BJP leaders, including L K Advani who is said to have reservations on the issue.
Amidst stepped-up pressure within BJP to declare Modi as the PM nominee, a coordination meeting of BJP, RSS, VHP and other Sangh Parivar outfits will be held here on September 8-9 which is expected to discuss the issue as also the strategy for next Lok Sabha elections and the current political situation.
Senior RSS leader Suresh ‘Bhaiyaji’ Joshi held talks yesterday with Advani and Sushma Swaraj, who is said to be opposed to Modi as PM face, to build a consensus on Modi as Prime Ministerial, candidate, sources said here today.
BJP President Rajnath Singh was also present during the meeting that took place at Advani’s residence, the sources told reporters.
Joshi is learnt to have discussed with them the need and timing for projecting Modi as the PM candidate.
The meeting was part of efforts to end resistance within the party over Modi’s anointment as the prime ministerial candidate.
RSS and VHP are keen that Modi is declared the Prime Ministerial candidate at the earliest but this proposal has hit a roadblock as Advani, Swaraj, and Murli Manohar Joshi, among some others in the top brass are opposed to it.
These BJP leaders are of the opinion that a decision on Modi should be taken after forthcoming assembly elections in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
Rajnath Singh and Arun Jaitley are of the view that the party should not wait further.
However, Advani and Swaraj are said to be against Modi’s projection as they believe it would polarise the electorate and take attention away from the numerous failings of UPA Government.
An RSS leader said a decision on Modi’s projection, which is believed to have the support of a majority of party leaders, would be announced once BJP manages to achieve “consensus” on his name as is the “tradition”.
“The (Sangh) family is agreeable to Modi’s choice but we would wait for the party to propose his name,” he said, outlining RSS’ stand on the Gujarat Chief Minister’s projection as PM candidate.
The development comes against the backdrop of strong pitch by some sections of BJP for early announcement on Modi’s projection.
Jaitley, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, had recently said the sooner Modi’s name was announced the better it would be for the party’s electoral prospects.
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