New Delhi: At this juncture, there is little clarity on the role of veteran BJP leader, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. Dr Joshi is also interested in a major portfolio. There are clear signals that master strategist Arun Jaitley is likely to become finance minister if he wins his Lok Sabha battle from Amritsar. Mr Jaitley, however, is still a member of the Upper House and is also Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
The BJP-RSS meeting that discussed post-poll strategy and government formation started around 10.30 am, with BJP president Rajnath Singh meeting RSS joint general secretary Suresh Soni. Mr Soni is, incidentally, also the pointperson between the BJP and the Sangh. Mr Modi’s close aide Amit Shah, BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal and his deputies Saudan Singh and V. Satish later joined Mr Soni and Mr Singh at the meeting that was held at the BJP chief’s residence.
The meeting discussed not just portfolio allocations but also the hunt for possible allies in the event of the NDA falling short of the 272 magic figure in the Lok Sabha. It is also learnt to have discussed the proposed structural changes in the BJP, that might include a change of party president in case Rajnath Singh joins the Modi Cabinet if the BJP comes to power.
Former BJP president Nitin Gadkari also went to the RSS headquarters to meet Suresh Soni to discuss the party’s organisational issues and government formation. The BJP leaders are said to be “not unduly perturbed” at AIADMK supremo J. Jayalalithaa sacking a party leader for going on record saying that it was willing to extend support to the BJP. The saffron leaders seem confident that “when the time comes, both the AIADMK and BJD will extend support”.
The BJP parliamentary board, the party’s top decision-making body, is due to meet in New Delhi on Saturday, a day after the results are announced, to take stock. Mr Modi is expected to leave for Varanasi shortly afterwards.
