New Delhi:
Narendra Modi is the only BJP chief minister attending a two-day meeting of organisations affiliated to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. On the second day today, the meeting will discuss campaign strategy for the 2014 general elections.
Mr Modi is the BJP's election campaign chief and could also be named as the party's candidate for Prime Minister by next week. Those pushing for a Modi-for-PM announcement want it to be done by September 19, before the 15-day shraadh period, considered inauspicious, begins.
The RSS reportedly also favours naming Mr Modi before Assembly elections for five states are notified, expected by the 22nd of this month. The anti-Modi coterie, including LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj, though has argued for that declaration to be delayed till after the Assembly elections are held in November.
The two day meeting is being attended by more than 25 Sangh-affiliated organisations; at a marathon 12-hour brainstorming session on Sunday, strategy to enhance coordination between various Sangh outfits and the party was chalked out.
Day 1 of the session also focused on ways to galvanise the youth in the BJP's favour and reach out to various sections of the society including minorities, Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (SC/STs) and Other Backward Castes (OBCs).
Before the start of the meet, the RSS said it had conveyed "its decision" to the BJP on its choice on the party's prime ministerial nominee. That statement was made after the Sangh met BJP chief Rajnath Singh and Mr Modi on Saturday to discuss the possible resistance to the latter's elevation as the party's face for 2014 from top BJP leaders.
The BJP president has repeatedly said that the party's parliamentary board, a group of top 12 leaders, will decide who the BJP's prime ministerial candidate will be. Mr Singh is expected to call a meeting of the board soon to take a final decision.