Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi (file pic)
New Delhi:
The BJP could officially name Narendra Modi its candidate for Prime Minister before September 19, strong opposition from top party leaders notwithstanding, sources have said.
September 19 marks the beginning of shraadh, a 15-day period just before the Navarati festival that is considered inauspicious for beginning anything important. The party, say sources, would like to make the crucial announcement before that.
The BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS has put the onus of how the decision will be taken on BJP president Rajnath Singh, who has repeatedly said that the party's parliamentary board, a group of top 12 leaders, will decide who the BJP's prime ministerial candidate will be.
Mr Singh is expected to call a meeting of the board soon to take a final decision.
The big internal debate is on when a Modi announcement should be made.
The RSS, which sits in on important decision-making in the party, said on Saturday that it has conveyed "its decision" to the BJP, when asked who it would like projected as presumptive PM in 2014.
"The Sangh has made its role clear. The party has to decide whose name to announce and when to do it. We have given our opinion to the BJP. They have to decide," senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya said after the organisation's head Mohan Bhagwat concluded an extended exercise to build consensus in the BJP over Mr Modi.
That involved a series of meetings with Mr Modi's powerful rivals in the BJP like LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj, who reportedly want the announcement naming Mr Modi delayed till after Assembly elections are held in five states this November.
But the RSS reportedly favours making the announcement before those elections are notified - expected by September 22, and is girding for a revolt from the anti-Modi group in the BJP.
A crucial two-day meeting of the RSS, the BJP and affiliated organisations begins today to work out coordination for the elections. Mr Modi is the only Chief Minister invited.
September 19 marks the beginning of shraadh, a 15-day period just before the Navarati festival that is considered inauspicious for beginning anything important. The party, say sources, would like to make the crucial announcement before that.
The BJP's ideological mentor, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or the RSS has put the onus of how the decision will be taken on BJP president Rajnath Singh, who has repeatedly said that the party's parliamentary board, a group of top 12 leaders, will decide who the BJP's prime ministerial candidate will be.
Mr Singh is expected to call a meeting of the board soon to take a final decision.
The big internal debate is on when a Modi announcement should be made.
The RSS, which sits in on important decision-making in the party, said on Saturday that it has conveyed "its decision" to the BJP, when asked who it would like projected as presumptive PM in 2014.
"The Sangh has made its role clear. The party has to decide whose name to announce and when to do it. We have given our opinion to the BJP. They have to decide," senior RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya said after the organisation's head Mohan Bhagwat concluded an extended exercise to build consensus in the BJP over Mr Modi.
That involved a series of meetings with Mr Modi's powerful rivals in the BJP like LK Advani and Sushma Swaraj, who reportedly want the announcement naming Mr Modi delayed till after Assembly elections are held in five states this November.
But the RSS reportedly favours making the announcement before those elections are notified - expected by September 22, and is girding for a revolt from the anti-Modi group in the BJP.
A crucial two-day meeting of the RSS, the BJP and affiliated organisations begins today to work out coordination for the elections. Mr Modi is the only Chief Minister invited.
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