"The BJP core group in its meeting today decided that the Chintan Baithak will now be held from August 19 to 21 in Shimla. It had to be postponed by two days as the prime minister has called a meeting of chief ministers to discuss internal security on August 17 and there are assembly by-elections on August 18," BJP president Rajnath Singh said.
Chief ministers of BJP-ruled states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh were not available on August 17 as they will be attending a meeting on the internal security situation to be chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Another reason for the postponement was the assembly by-elections in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh that will be held on August 18.
The three-day conclave, to be attended by a select few among the top brass of the BJP, would discuss the reasons for the dismal performance of the party in the Lok Sabha polls.
Today's core group meeting also discussed the list of those who will be invited for the conclave. Other issues like taking on the government on price rise and the India-Pakistan joint statement were also discussed.