BJP chief Amit Shah (File photograph)
In face of an attack from the opposition and resistance from allies on land bill, senior leaders of the BJP met at party chief Amit Shah's home late on Thursday night to work out an alternative strategy to get the support of regional players.
The meeting was attended by a number of ministers and senior leaders including Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Anant Kumar and JP Nadda, sources told NDTV.
The government has moved the bill in the Lok Sabha, where it has a majority. But it is trying to create a consensus so the bill doesn't get stuck in the upper house, where it is in minority. Support from regional players, while upping its numbers, will also help isolate the Congress, the Janata Dal United and the Left -- like-minded parties which have formed a block in the Upper House.
During the two-hour meeting, the BJP decided one leader each will hold negotiations with different political outfits. Sources say Mr Jaitley has already opened channels of communication with allies Akali Dal and Shiv Sena, while Rajnath Singh has spoken to BJD leaders.
Mr Jaitley is also expected to meet West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on or after March 10, sources said. The Trinamool Congress, so far, has firmly sided with the Congress-led opposition on the land bill.
The government is also planning to use this period to talk to the protesting farmers and their leaders. Earlier this week, the farmers had rallied around Gandhian activist Anna Hazare, who held a two-day protest in Delhi.
Despite the backlash, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly not in favour of revising the ordinance. But in what's being seen as an attempt to propitiate the opposition, senior minister Nitin Gadkari has said the government is "open to good suggestions" on potential changes.
Today, Mr Jaitley strongly defended the bill in Parliament, urging the opposition not to create an atmosphere where "industry and infrastructure become bad words". Parties like the Congress, he said, have "erred greatly" in hawking the government's plans as "anti-farmer".