BJP, Sangh mull alliance expansion to work out numbers

After prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s visit to Jhandewalan on Saturday, party president Rajnath Singh on Sunday met Sangh leaders. Top RSS leaders including Bhaiyaji Joshi and RSS points-man in dealing with BJP, Suresh Soni, held a closed-door meeting with the BJP president for nearly two hours at the RSS office in Jhandewalan.

Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat was not present at the meeting. BJP’s prime ministerial candidate had met Bhagwat on Satuday. ‘The early articulation is that in case of the need arising for new partners, the scouting should be done south of the Vindhyas,’ said sources. At least two prominent political players – Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa and YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy have not given their response to Narendra Modi’s ‘invitation to join NDA’ to all political parties opposed to the Congress.

Another important player, Biju Janata Dal in Odisha, has not reacted to the ‘expression of interest’ by Narendra Modi and his close associate Amit Shah. ‘It’s case of wait and watch. We have given the indication and do not expect a response from them until they know how much numbers we have with us. We are sure to expect our magnetic power with increased number,’ said a senior BJP leader.Among the various issues discussed, the brief contours of expanded alliance was discussed and also a discussion taken up on the possibility of what could be ‘give and take package’ in case of new allies coming in. Other than the Shiv Sena, the BJP is not expecting a ‘mighty performance’ from its pre-poll allies and its increasingly dawning on the leaders to work towards increasing the catchment area.