Fissures in BJP over new team

With Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national executive and national council to begin from Friday, serious disagreements have emerged within the party over the formation of  the new team. The team was to be constituted after Rajnath Singh was made the president of the party.

Sources say that initially the team was supposed to be announced before the national council, however, with consensus failing to emerge within the BJP leadership the process has been delayed.

A BJP leader said that one of the names over whom there has been no agreement is that of BJP national secretary P Murlidhar Rao, who is also associated with the president of the party for coordination. Sources say that while veteran BJP leader L K Advani is keen that Rao be made as the general secretary of the party, BJP president is not in favour for his elevation. Even former BJP president Nitin Gadkari is of the view that Rao should not be made the general secretary and he should continue in his current position.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, who is also deputy leader of Rajya Sabha, could also see himself being relieved of the position of chief spokesperson of the party. A section within the party is of the view that he being made the deputy leader of Rajya Sabha should not continue as the chief spokesperson of the party.

The national council which will be held on 2 of March, is being held to give its stamp of approval to Rajnath Singh being made the president of the party. The two day national council    will discuss the  economic, social, political situation of the country.