New Delhi, August 16
After a heavy exchange of fire for more than a week, the warring factions in the BJP called a truce today with BJP president Rajnath Singh and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje both making conciliatory noises, showing a reluctance to bring their clash to a head.

While Vasundhara denied reports of her impending resignation from the party and floating her new outfit, Rajnath termed her statement as positive and encouraging and expressed confidence that she would heed the advice of the party.

Also for the first time Rajnath admitted he had asked Vasundhara to quit her Rajasthan legislature party leadership, demonstrating that he now had concurrence of the parliamentary board to announce that Vasundhara has to go.

But as a concession he refused to set any deadline, and would not say whether she will relinquish office before the Chintan Baithak slated for August 19, 20 and 21 or after it. Vasundhara’s name was not included in the list of 25 invitees for this exclusive introspection session. Instead her bete noire Jaswant Singh will be attending the Baithak in Shimla.

Rajnath’s announcement came after a brief meeting of the parliamentary board here this evening held specifically to discuss the Rajasthan situation, said Rajnath later.

He said the entire parliamentary board felt that her statement should be taken in the right positive spirit. Clearing the air over the week-long drama, the BJP president said: “Yes I was asked to convey to her that she should step down.”

The meeting chaired by Rajnath was attended by L.K. Advani, Arun Jaitely, Jaswant Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Ram Lal and Thawarchand Gehlot and others.

Sources said Vasudhara softened her stand after she was informed that the parliamentary board was going to meet this evening to decide on her fate and could recommend disciplinary action if she failed to comply with the high command directive.

Moreover a meeting of the MLAs she had called at her residence this morning to assess her support in the legislative party also turned out to be a rather damp squib, said the sources here. Soon after that Vasundhara changed tack and declared that she never intended quitting the BJP or floating another outfit.

But while curtains have come down on Act One of this drama, it has brought to the fore a fierce power struggle within the BJP and the RSS. The RSS wanted both Advani and Vasundhara to go. Rajnath with the backing of the Sangh has succeeded in persuading Vasundhara to fall in line.

As for Advani, Rajnath is too junior to exert any pressure on him.