New Delhi, September 22
Even as efforts to persuade Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi to withdraw his resignation from the Union Cabinet continued, he did not attend office today.

While Defence Minister George Fernandes, who is also the convener of the National Democratic Alliance, had a one-to-one meeting with Dr Joshi for over 90 minutes this morning, the “angry and hurt” Human Resource Development Minister made it very clear that he would not attend office till Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee returned from abroad on September 27.

Both Mr Fernandes and Dr Joshi declined to divulge details of their meeting.

While the Defence Minister said, “I came to discuss something personal with him”, Dr Joshi told newspersons, “I have nothing to say”.

Sources said that Mr Fernandes had gone at the behest of Mr Advani to ascertain Dr Joshi’s mind, but another source said the Defence Minister had gone on behalf of the Prime Minister.

Dr Joshi’s hurt and anger is focussed primarily against some party leaders who have been “systematically” trying to marginalise him in the party, sources said.

Dr Joshi has been witnessing his neglect by the party for quite sometime now, sources close to him said.

It is understood that Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani may also call on Dr Joshi late tonight or on September 24 to convince his party and Cabinet colleagues that his resignation was only damaging the BJP image which the HRD Minister has built along with other leaders.

It is understood that the Deputy Prime Minister may call on his colleague at a time when the meeting could be away from media glare. If Mr Advani does not meet Dr Joshi today, the two are likely to meet on September 24 as Mr Advani will be away to Chhattisgarh tomorrow.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh supremo K. Sudarshan, who was to meet Dr Joshi today, had to postpone the meeting in view of the death of senior RSS leader Morepant Pingle whose cremation took place at Nagpur.

It appeared that the Ram temple and Ayodhya issues and the Rai Bareli special court verdict on Friday have at the moment taken a backseat and Dr Joshi’s hurt has come to the forefront, a leader pointed out, adding that this would be settled only when Mr Vajpayee returned.

Mr Vajpayee is likely to call a meeting at his residence the very next day after his return which would be attended by Mr Advani, Dr Joshi, RSS leaders and BJP President M. Venkaiah Naidu where the issue would be discussed threadbare.

But before the meeting, Dr Joshi is likely to have a one-to-one meeting with Mr Vajpayee, sources said.

Sources said Dr Joshi’s would only take back his resignation after he extracts a promise from both Mr Vajpayee and the RSS leadership that he would not be maltreated by the party.

It would not be surprising if a compromise is arrived at and that the present BJP president is asked to go and a common candidate acceptable to Dr Joshi agreed upon, sources said.

Meanwhile, Dr Joshi has been busy meeting hardliners in the party to build his base in the Ram temple movement.