BJP braces for the return of infighting

After a lull, the BJP is bracing for the return of visible infighting. At the epicentre is the party's Shimla conclave next week and a report on the party's poll defeat compiled by Bal Apte. The report is based on inputs from states. It says:

• The BJP lost due to infighting between central leaders, top leaders working against party interests in states, and BJP's refusal to act tough against Varun Gandhi
• Some even blamed Advani and others for targeting Manmohan as a weak PM
• Others blamed the party's campaign strategy

Leaders close to Advani are evading accountability. First didn't want the meet. Then they refused to discuss the poll defeat.

"At the chintan baithak there will be no analysis why we lost the elections. It will be on the road ahead," L K Advani had said.

Now the camp proposes that the report will just provide broad talking points for the meet which will create the final report.

BJP leader Chandan Mitra, however, says that there is no report. There is no fact finding; just talking points.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy says: "In the last national executive it was decided that a report will be created out of reports from various states on why the party lost the polls and these will be discussed at chintan baithak."

Advani can have his way as his men dominate the list of 25 invitees. Those opposing Advani and his team want the loss and the report discussed.

To raise contentious issues some are ready to use tough letters written by Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shourie -- as the two are not on the list of invitees

"Since they are not members of any of the party organisations, they are not invited," says party president Rajnath Singh.

This may create chaos at the chintan baithak. With the party's top posts including the president getting vacant in December, no faction will like to lose ground at the meet.