BJP meet may pave way for next leadership

A stormy session is anticipated at the Bharatiya Janata Party's National Executive meeting, which is likely to pave the way for a new leadership in the party. The two-day meeting, beginning in New Delhi on June 20, is the first major strategy discussion of the party after its debacle in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls.

The BJP's organisational elections are due in December as party president Rajnath Singh's term comes to an end in January 2010. The National Executive meet is expected to see some fresh faces getting noticed for future leadership. "Which side wins the arguments and has more support base would be seen as probable winners in the coming party election," a national executive member said.

Arun Jaitley, the once powerful general secretary of the BJP and his arch rival Yashwant Sinha, who quit party posts over 'rewards for failure' issue in the aftermath of the poll results, would not attend the meet. Still, party insiders are expecting it to be an intense session over the future leadership issue.

Jaitley is on an extended holiday to Europe, while Sinha, a senior leader and a former Union minister, has not been invited to the meet after he resigned from all party posts in protest against the leadership's failure to review the party's worst-ever poll performance.

Sinha's letter to Rajnath Singh had raised questions on the perpetuation of the rule of coterie surrounding Lal Krishna Advani, leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj, who are considered strong contenders for the party chief's post, were his targets in the said letter.

Jaitley and Swaraj have been appointed as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, respectively.

In a party, which faces an identity crisis after the recent electoral defeat, the meeting would offer brainstorming session to its 170-odd leaders from all over the country.