Mumbai, June 17: A crucial brainstorming session of top echelons of BJP leadership would begin today in neighbouring Thane district to chart out party`s future strategy ahead of next year`s general elections. "We will chart out the party`s short term and long term strategy.... There is no specific agenda and threadbare discussions will be held on all topics", BJP`s newly appointed national spokesman Prakash Jawdekar told a news agency here.
The party`s strategy for the coming assembly elections to five states would also discussed during the four-day "chintan baithak", which would be a closed-door session, he said. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajapyee would be arriving here today evening for the meeting. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, who would arrive from UK on June 18, would be among the 25 top leaders to attend the meeting, besides party president Venkaiah Naidu and RSS leader Madandas Devi.
The meeting will be held in the picturesque Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP), the Training Centre for elected representatives, named after the late BJP MP. The session will also dwell on the "right timing" for the general elections and whether it would be favourable to go for early polls sometime between November this year and September, 2004, party sources said. the BJP would also take stock of the party`s strength in various states and performance of the BJP-led NDA at the centre, sources said. They said it would not be a decision-making forum but discussions would be held on chalking out strategies to strengthen party`s as well as its allies` performances.
Apart from poll issues, Indo-Pak relations, Ayodhya, the economic situation and the government`s relations with RSS are expected to figure in the meeting, the sources added.
Naidu is expected to address mediapersons on June 20 after the conclusion of the meeting.
Bureau Report