Live: Crucial meet between BJP and RSS to decide poll strategy begins

New Delhi: 11:20 am: The crucial meet between BJP and RSS has begun to decide poll strategy for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

11:02 am: Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's Campaign Committee Chief Narendra Modi has arrived for the crucial BJP-RSS meet to finalise their poll strategy.

Ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will meet later on Thursday to finalise their poll strategy. This is their first meeting after Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's anointment as poll campaign panel chief and senior leader LK Advani's rebellion.

BJP's strategy for the assembly and general elections will be discussed at the meeting. Meanwhile, sources say Modi supporters are pushing for his elevation as the party's Prime Ministerial candidate ahead of the November assembly polls. "I am very confident that Narendra Modi will be India's next Prime Minister," BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said.

The BJP's strategy for the monsoon session of Parliament is also expected to be discussed. The meet will be attended by Modi, BJP President Rajnath Singh and other senior BJP leaders. Top RSS leaders Bhaiyaji Joshi, Dattatreya Hosabale and Suresh Soni will also attend the meet. But LK Advani is out of town and will meet RSS leaders later.

The BJP had early declared that Narendra Modi-led team that will manage the campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Former party chief Nitin Gadkari has been given a prominent role in the team.

The party's central election campaign committee will be headed by Modi and work under the guidance of president Rajnath Singh and veteran leaders AB Vajpayee and LK Advani. Twenty sub-committees have been formed, which will report to the central campaign committee.

The BJP had early declared that Narendra Modi-led team that will manage the campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Former party chief Nitin Gadkari has been given a prominent role in the team.

The party's central election campaign committee will be headed by Modi and work under the guidance of president Rajnath Singh and veteran leaders AB Vajpayee and LK Advani. A 20 sub-committees have been formed, which will report to the central campaign committee.

The decision to elevate Modi as poll panel chief was opposed by its former ally and many party leaders. The Janata Dal United broke its 17-year-old alliance with the BJP in view of Modi's elevation.

Many leaders including Shatrughan Sinha have been supporting LK Advani to be named as BJP's PM candidate. He even praised JD(U) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as the prime ministerial material.

Former BJP's Delhi Vice President, Aamir Raza Hussain had called Modi a divisive leader who was not as acceptable to Muslims as LK Advani or Sushma Swaraj. He had resigned after his statement against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi which anguished the party.

The factions in BJP

Gujarat Chief Minsiter Narendra Modi aides argue that he be anointed as PM candidate since last vestige of opposition in JD(U) has already made an exit.

Modi aides also see Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan emerging as a contender post-assembly polls.

The second view is to take a call on the issue only after assembly polls in November. They believe any announcement now may digress party's campaign being planned in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Third view is to not announce any PM candidate and approach the polls with Modi only as campaign committee chief. Proponents of this idea underline the need and groundwork for building post-poll ties in case of a hung House.

Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/live-crucial-meet-between-bjp-and-rss-to-decide-poll-strategy-begins/411079-37-64.html