Munde may join Rajnath's team

NEW DELHI: Rajnath Singh is likely to announce his new team of office-bearers towards the end of January, a full one month after having been formally re-anointed as the BJP president, this time for a full three-year term.

The delay in the finalisation of the new set of officebearers is being attributed to astrological considerations as also the desire to zero in on the right blend of old and new, experience and youth. Even though informal consultations have already begun, the selection process is likely to be kicked off in right earnest only after Makar Sankranti, which falls on January 14.

According to the Hindu tradition, Makar Sankranti marks the commencement of the auspicious phase, and Mr Singh, a strong believer in astrology, has, it’s learnt, been advised to kickstart the exercise of selecting the new team only after January 14. While quite a few leaders who were part of the old team are likely to be accommodated in the new list of office-bearers, Mr Singh will have his task cut out in inducting fresh faces.

The task of looking for fresh blood may eventually turn out be an onerous one, as the party is saddled with an acute talent-deficit. It has, in the past few years, failed to throw up new leaders with spark and the necessary political acumen, with the result that the so-called “third generation leadership” is virtually absent.

In keeping with the practice worked out by him, the BJP chief is likely to hold extensive consultations with the RSS top-brass while finalising the composition of his team. He is also expected to seek the advice of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and former party chief LK Advani.

Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls in March this year, is likely to be provided a representation “commensurate with its importance in the country’s political landscape”.

Among the leaders likely to be accommodated in the new team are former Union minister Arif Mohammed Khan, and former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Gopinath Munde.

Those rooting for Mr Khan’s induction cite his impeccable “secular” credentials, while Mr Munde is expected to fill up the void created by Mr Pramod Mahajan’s demise. The amended party constitution enjoins the president to appoint nine vice-presidents, seven general secretaries and nine secretaries.

Apart from the new set of office-bearers, Mr Singh will also have to appoint the chiefs of various morchas and cells, besides finalising the composition of the new national executive.

devesh.kumar@timesgroup.com