executive

New Delhi, Dec 17 (UNI) The BJP will discuss measures for improving its performance in the coming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and deliberate on issues concerning national security, wrong policies on tackling terrorism, prices and the Indo-US Nuclear deal at the party's National Executive on December 22 and its National Council at Lucknow for the next two days.

The National Council, held for the first time in BJP's history, will affirm Mr Rajnath Singh as the party president for a three-year renewed term in his home state of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and politically sensitive state, which will 40 to polls in a couple of months. The party also has to face crucial elections in Uttaranchal and Punjab.

Those who had relegated BJP as an insignficant player in Uttar Pradesh in the media and political circles were in for a shock after the recently concluded urban local body elections where the BJP had emerged as a clear winner sweeping many City Corporations including Ghaziabad.

The RSS described Mr Singh as 'lucky vote catcher' for the BJP and the win also boosted his chances for getting a renewed three year term. Mr Singh even otherwise was expected to be retained in view of the U P elections but the party's success has granted him crucial bonus points.

The BJP will organise rally on December 24 on the eve of birthday former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Lucknown his Lok Sabha constituency. The last BJP Executive in Lucknow was held in 1984.

Mr Singh will be under sharp focus because all his actions are keenly watched, be it selection of his new team or the way he carries out the RSS diktats in running the party. So far, he had been carrying his predecessor Advani's team. From now onwards Mr Singh is expected to takes independent decisions even though Mr Advani feels that he had been reduced to a 'consultant'. The party may have decided to gloss over these statements, but it will be difficult to get over the sting.

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