Concentrate on Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and South India: RSS to BJP

New Delhi, Sept 8: The high-level "Samanvay Baithak (coordination meeting)" that began between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), took strategic decisions on various key issues on the first day of the two-day meet, on Sunday in the national capital in Delhi.

According to sources, the RSS told the BJP leaders to concentrate on Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and South India, ahead of the general elections 2014.

Sources also said that RSS also asked BJP's top brass to concentrate on tribal belts constantly.

During the meet, the student-wing of the RSS, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has also reportedly been told to galvanise youngsters and involve the youth in the campaign.

Sources said the two-day meeting is being attended by top functionaries of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

They said senior party leader LK Advani was not present at the first-half of the meeting but he joined it in the afternoon.

The meeting is being held against the backdrop of intense discussions in the party on the issue of naming Gujarat chief minister and the BJP poll panel chief Narendra Modi as the prime ministerial candidate.

The BJP has maintained that the decision on naming its prime ministerial candidate will be taken by the party's parliamentary board.

Sources said there are differing views in the party on projecting Modi as prime ministerial candidate. While a section wants him to be projected as the party's face for the general polls before elections to the five states assemblies later this year, another section wants the decision to be deferred till these elections were over.

"The meeting is likely to discuss the issue," a BJP leader said.

RSS told the BJP leaders to concentrate on Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and South India.

Sources said that a decision on Modi could be announced in the next 10 days.

The RSS has described the meeting as "routine" and said that views will be exchanged among various organisations affiliated to the Sangh.

RSS leader Manmohan Vaidya had said on Saturday that issues relating to economy, national security and the society will be discussed at the meeting.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat is likely to attend the coordination meeting on Monday.

BJP sources said the meeting is being attended by party chief Rajnath Singh and other members of the BJP's parliamentary board, including Modi.

However, they said that Modi may not attend the meeting on Monday due to prior engagements in Gujarat.

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar are expected to join the meeting on Monday.

OneIndia News

(With Agency inputs)