As the BJP tries to find a way out of its internal crisis, it is increasingly becoming clear that it's no longer a question of if, but when LK Advani will be replaced as Leader of the Opposition (LoP). And that's something in which the RSS may be having a deciding role.
That is why Advani meeting with RSS Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday became the most anticipated meeting of the BJP saga -- one that may well be the start of a new beginning for the party.
Sources told NDTV that in the 90-minute meeting the two men discussed life after Advani, the succession roadmap, a timetable for change and infighting within the party.
The sources also said that Bhagwat doesn't want a distasteful exit for Advani, so the change will take time and is most likely to take place towards the end of the year.
However, officially all this was denied by BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.
Before his meeting with Advani, Bhagwat had met with the Loh Purush's loyalists. For over two hours, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar made a strong bid together for the first time in years.
According to sources, they conveyed Advani's acceptance to step down later and Bhagwat told them to remain united.
Sources have also told NDTV that the Jaitely-Sushma combination as party president and LoP can take over, or it could be leaders brought in from outside Delhi.
The Sangh may insist it doesn't interfere, but on Saturday it was clear that its chief was the main arbiter in the party's battle within. Bhagwat had lunch with M M Joshi, which the sources said was a move likely to ensure the senior leader's cooperation. He also met B C Khanduri, VHP's Ashok Singhal and spoke to Rajnath on phone.
But at the end of the day, there was another official denial, this time from the RSS.
So why did the RSS publically plunge into course correction? Perhaps because the crisis is unprecedented; or because it involves the change of guard and change of generation that may see the senior-most swayamsevak and the BJP's oldest yatri step back.
