New Delhi: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Bal Apte met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday evening. It was for the second time that Apte met Bhagwat in two days.
Bal Apte had prepared a report on BJP's loss in general elections 2009.
Earlier, in a bid to resolve the turmoil within the BJP, the RSS has proposed a high-powered advisory committee to look into it. The names of L K Advani, Shekhawat and M M Joshi have been proposed as panel members.
The RSS proposal also says that the BJP may get new faces and the old guard will advise party.
The RSS on Sunday held a press conference at LK Advani's residence where RSS leader Madan Das Devi read a statement saying LK Advani is the senior most leader of the BJP and that the party will emerge stronger from the crisis.
Sources have told NDTV that the succession plan is almost finalised and Advani may step down as Leader of Opposition before the next parliamentary session that is before the year-end. The time frame needs to be worked for his exit. NDTV has also learnt that Advani could be appointed to some kind of advisory role.
Sources have also told NDTV that Rajnath too may step down and the Sangh may be pushing for someone outside, from the states.
The RSS would certainly have a say in choosing the successor. But what the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat would insist on, say sources, is an honourable exit for Advani.
But former party president Venkaiah Naidu insists the RSS has no role to play going on to say talk of a change of leadership is wrong.
"How can anybody corner Advaniji? Does anybody has that capacity? Advaniji is the leader, he will continue to lead the party," he said.
Meanwhile, BJP president Rajnath Singh has written to the Prime Minister, saying there is no need to worry about the BJP; the government should deal with drought instead.
The succession plan?
It is learnt that Mohan Bhagwat has told the BJP leaders to stay united. But does the party have a succession formula?
Sources have told NDTV that the first option is to elect Arun Jaitley as the BJP president and Sushma Swaraj as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
But if this finds stiff opposition, the second option the party is considering is to bring leaders outside Delhi.