The RSS has asked the BJP leadership to begin consultations within the party to decided on the name of its prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Citing Uttar Pradesh’s example, where “too many chief ministerial aspirants” “dented” the saffron party’s poll prospects, the RSS has also asked the BJP to consult its allies on the issue.
The RSS top brass, including general secretary Suresh (Bhaiyyaji) Joshi, had met senior BJP leaders,
including party chief Nitin Gadkari and parliamentary party chief L.K. Advani, earlier this week.
The BJP’s organisational matter, the recent Assembly polls, the future course of action and the issue of PM candidate for the 2014 general polls came up for discussion.
Sources disclosed the RSS, which has often pointed out to the BJP that there is a “lack of inspirational
leadership” and the party has “bigger army of leaders”, has cautioned the party that unless it decide its PM candidate before the general polls, it will only end up confusing its cadre which will affect its campaign and thus the party will again lose the general polls.
While Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is said to be top contender for the post, one of the BJP key ally, the JD(U), is unlikely to agree on his name. Bihar CM and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and Mr Modi do not share a good rapport.
The names of other senior leaders, including L.K. Advani, Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and even Mr Gadkari, are doing the rounds in the BJP for the post. The RSS had told the BJP its campaign for the general polls should be focused and its cadre should know who they are campaigning for, which will not be possible until the party takes a decision on this issue.