Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Amid speculation of a
succession plan within the BJP, the party on Sunday said its
President Rajnath Singh would not get a second term as its
constitution does not permit it.
"No, here only one term is given, so there should be
no doubt in anyone`s mind about this..... In every three years
elections are held (to choose a new president)....," BJP
spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
He also informed that Rajnath Singh had written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in which he has asked him to stop worrying about the BJP and instead tackle drought and price rise.
Rajnath’s letter came in response to the PM’s statement made on Saturday in which he had said: “The situation in the BJP is not good… it is BJP`s internal matter but stability in political parties is most necessary in a democracy, otherwise, it will have an impact on the country.”
“Rather than worrying about the development in the BJP, we urge you to concentrate on the developmental work. The farmers of the country are suffering from the drought. Constitute a Task Force to tackle the drought situation. Take immediate steps to tackle price rise,” Javadekar quoted from Rajnath’s letter.
As per the BJP constitution, a party president is
elected for three years and does not get a consecutive second
term.
Highly placed party sources said RSS chief Mohan
Bhagwat is not in favour of Arun Jaitley, M Venkaiah Naidu,
Sushma Swaraj and Ananth Kumar as the next party president.
"The new party president should be young, dynamic and
having a good track record and acceptable to the party cadre
throughout the country," a party leader said about the
conditions laid down by the RSS.
BJP top brass has been asked to finalise names of
leaders who meet the criteria and submit the list to RSS.
"A new party president will be in place soon after
Rajnath`s term comes to an end," a BJP leader said.
Rajnath will complete three years in December.
No change in leadership
Prakash Javadekar also refuted media reports of an impending change in the party leadership, amidst hectic parleys between BJP and RSS leaders over a new roadmap for the party, adding there will be “no change in leadership in Lok Sabha… LK Advani will continue as Leader of the Opposition.”
‘LK to continue Leader of Oppn in LS’
Earlier in the day, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu too had termed as baseless the reports of a planned change in top leadership of the party, saying LK Advani will continue to remain the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Naidu further said the party will take its own decisions regarding its future.
In the morning, senior RSS leader Madandas Devi had expressed hope that the BJP will come out stronger from the current crisis, while making it clear that the Sangh would not interfere in the party’s decision-making.
Devi made the remarks at a short press conference following the breakfast meeting with Advani, which was also attended by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.
“BJP has assured the Sangh that they will stand united and solve all problems,” Devi told reporters.
Devi said it was not unusual for political parties to face crisis, adding the BJP will resolve it and emerge stronger.
Devi also informed that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had made it clear that the BJP will take its own decisions and decide its future for itself.
He however added that change will be witnessed in the BJP soon.
Reports said the RSS chief also held discussions with Advani on a new roadmap for the BJP, during the breakfast meeting.
Bhagwat had on Friday said that the RSS would "help and advise" only if BJP asks for it. He expressed confidence that the party will "emerge from the crisis".
The BJP has been in turmoil after its poor show in the Lok Sabha elections. The crisis worsened last week when veteran leader Jaswant Singh was expelled from the party over his controversial book "Jinnah - India, Partition, Independence" in which he has praised Pakistan`s founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
Singh and senior party leaders Arun Shourie and Yashwant Sinha as well as former National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra have cornered the party`s top leader, Advani, saying in media interviews that he was in the know of the militant-hostage swap during the 1999 hijack of an Indian Airlines aircraft.
