New Delhi, August 18
On the eve of the crucial three-day Chintan Baithak of the BJP beginning in Shimla tomorrow, RSS chief Mohanrao Bhagwat stressed the need for generational change in BJP.

Also, in sharp contrast to BJP parliamentary party leader L.K. Advani’s insistence of continuing in that post for full five-year term, the RSS chief clarified to a TV news channel that he did not favour this.

While denying that he or the Sangh try to influence BJP, the RSS chief said Advani had offered to step aside after the debacle in the last General Election and Bhagwat described it as a “fair decision.”

Asked specficially if he had asked Advani not to resign, Bhagwat said, “No. Our three leaders met him soon after the elections. He himself proposed he wanted to quit from the LoP post. That was a fair decision. But on June 1, he met me and explained that though he wanted to resign. “But some of my (Advani’s) colleagues argued that if we had won I would have become the Prime Minister for next five years and I agreed with them.”

Bhagwat said, “Advani is my senior leader. He is our swayamsevak. They (the BJP) know that we do not interfere in their affairs. But we do tell our swayamsevaks from time to time what to do.”

Simultaneously, the Sangh chief also underlined the need for a generational change in the BJP and pointed out that it has been urging the BJP to effect this change since as far back as 2003 and stressed that it should be done before the next General Election, also trying to distance the Sangh from the process saying it is for the BJP to decide the time and modus operandi.

He said, “The BJP has to decide about it. It is not a question of what we think. They have to manage their party. It is a universal rule that the younger generation must replace…The transition is necessary, everywhere.”

Bhagwat also expressed his dismay at the current infighting in the BJP and wanted the BJP to communicate the correct meaning of Hindutva properly to the outside world.

Bhagwat’s assertion on the eve of the Chintan Baithak, likely to influence the course of discussion in this meet, has put the BJP on a backfoot with senior leader M Venkaiah Naidu sufficing to say “No comments,” when asked about Bhagwat’s views.

But then sources indicated that Bhagwat’s assertion has opened a chapter, which Advani was attempting to close down for good. On August 10 Bhagwat had lunch with Advani. But Advani denied any discussion about his continuation in office and reiterated his determination to complete his full five-year term.

Apart from generational change issue, the Baithak has also to contend with the question of infighting. Much as BJP has been trying to brush it under the carpet, the recent episode concerning Rajasthan BJP legislative party leader Vasundhara Raje has brought it to the fore.