RSS to call the shots in new government formation?

New Delhi: Marathon meetings between senior BJP leaders and the RSS top brass continued throughout Thursday, on the eve of the election results, making it clear that it is the Sangh Parivar’s big brother (RSS) that is all set to drive the agenda of the party and the government if saffron forces come to power at the Centre.

But rumblings within the BJP have already begun, with reports trickling in that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj is thoroughly annoyed over being kept out of the consultations. Ms Swaraj has reportedly indicated that she would not be happy
with anything other than one of the four key ministries home, finance, defence or external affairs.

There could also be problems for the BJP as the party patriarch is not too keen to accept the post of Speaker of the Lok Sabha.

Saffron sanyasin Uma Bharti met Mr Advani on Thursday in an effort to persuade him to accept the offer of Speakership. Later in the evening BJP president Rajnath Singh also approached Mr Advani.

It was learnt later that while Mr Advani was reluctant to relinquish  the post of  NDA chairman in favour of Mr Narendra Modi, he may be slowly coming around to the idea of becoming Lok Sabha Speaker if the BJP comes to power.