BJP leader Bal Apte meets RSS Chief

New Delhi, Aug.30 (ANI): Senior BJP leader Bal Apte met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat for the second time in the last 24 hours on Sunday.

The two leaders are said to have discussed the latest developments in the BJP and Apte's internal report on the reasons behind the BJP's defeat in the recent General Elections.

Apte's meeting took place after Bhagwat's two meetings with Leader of Opposition L.K.Advani on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

Apte's internal report is said to have squarely indicted and blamed senior party leader L.K.Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Jaitley as chief election manager for the BJP's poll debacle.

The election loss had been attributed to a perceived lack of unity among the party leadership and the BJP's failure to advertise and market its agenda among the people.

The report also said the projection of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate by certain sections of the party and the personal attack on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh (which did not go down well with the people), were other key factors contributing to the defeat.

Other factors responsible were (1) The highlighting of the Varun Gandhi address in Pilibhit, which pushed aside other main issues; (2) The party's failure to assess the public mood in Haryana and to concede a virtual walkover to the Congress; (3) That elections were lost in Delhi even before campaigning began; (4) The BJP's failure to corner the Congress on 26/11 and (5) Allowing the Congress and the media to corner the BJP on the Kandahar hijack issue.

Sunday's breakfast meeting between Advani and Bhagwat was the second between the two. They had earlier met on Saturday afternoon for about two hours at the RSS headquarters in Delhi - Keshavkunj to discuss various issues.

Saturday's meeting took place amid reports that the RSS has readied a succession plan for the BJP. However, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters at a press conference that no succession plan was discussed.

The RSS is believed to have told the BJP leadership to set its house in order. In a sign that this is being given serious thought, top brass of the BJP met at Advani's residence yesterday morning for about two hours and briefed him about their discussions with Bhagwat on Friday.

The Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh (RSS) reportedly asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership this morning to work on a blue print that it has handed over to ensure a smooth succession.

According to sources, Leader of Opposition L K Advani has been asked to preside over the exercise.

Sources also said that Advani had been told to step down after ensuring speedy implementation of the plan, but the RSS has left the timing of Advani's exit to him.(ANI)