Govt formation: BJP chief Rajnath Singh meets top RSS leader Suresh Soni

Zee Media Bureau/Ritesh K Srivastava

New Delhi: In order to prevent any last minute hassle before the coronation of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister in the event of BJP clinching a clear majority in the Lok Sabha elections, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leadership has shifted its base from Nagpur to the National Capital on Thursday. According to reports, top RSS leader Suresh Soni today met BJP chief Rajnath Singh to discuss the government formation. Also, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and his deputy Bhaiyaji Joshi is also expected to arrive in the national capital today. They will together hold a series of meetings with senior BJP leaders and decide on the possible future roles of the prominent party figures. The RSS leadership, which is believed to be closely monitoring the developments in the national capital and Gandhinagar, will camp in Delhi till the new government is formed. The RSS top brass has decided to shift its base to Delhi in the wake of reports that some top BJP leaders are displeased with their possible future roles perceived by the party high command for them. It was reported yesterday that BJP patriarch LK Advani is not keen to be a part of the NDA government led by his “junior”. Envisaging a mentor`s role for himself, Advani prefers to continue as the NDA chairman. Meanwhile, MM Joshi, another top leader and part of the troika (AB Vajpayee, LK Advani and MM Joshi) that led BJP to unparalleled heights, is also not too keen to be the Speaker of the Lok Sabha – a role perceived by the top BJP brass for him. Advani`s close confidant and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj has also sought a "respectable" role - matching her stature and vast experience - from the party high command. Interestingly, an RSS internal survey has also suggested that the NDA may not get an absolute majority – another cause of worry for the top RSS, which necessitates its presence in Delhi to be available to guide the party if the situation warrants. The RSS had deployed its entire cadre to work for the victory of the BJP and hence it won’t let extraneous factors mar government formation, if the combine falls short of the magic number. The NDA needs a clear majority of more than 272 MPs to form the government. The RSS wants the BJP to have a clear majority on its own to implement the Sangh agenda without any hindrance, but its internal survey does not see the party winning more than 226 seats; moreover, Modi will have to vacate one of the two seats, that is, if he wins from both Varanasi and Vadodara. The NDA, according to the RSS estimates, will have a tally of only 259 seats. Sources privy to the RSS survey said the BJP will win 45 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh and 18 out of the 40 seats in Bihar. The BJP tally in some other states is projected to be: Gujarat 21 out of 26, Rajasthan 21 out of 25, Madhya Pradesh 22 out of 29, Maharashtra 18 out of 48, Delhi 5 out of 7, Punjab 2 out of 13, Jammu and Kashmir 2 out of 6, Chhattisgarh 9 out of 11, and Goa both the seats.