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Tuesday, Jun 22, 2004

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National

Thackeray to meet Vajpayee

By Neena Vyas

MUMBAI, JUNE 21. A meeting between the Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thackeray, and the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, scheduled here tomorrow evening, will highlight the Bharatiya Janata Party's assertion that its three-day national executive committee starting here tomorrow will focus on the Assembly elections ahead.

The Maharashtra elections have become all the more important for the BJP after the debacle in the the Lok Sabha polls and tomorrow's dinner meeting between four to five Shiv Sena leaders and a similar number of BJP leaders, including the former Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and the general secretary, Pramod Mahajan, is expected to lay the foundation for close cooperation between the two allies, party leaders said here.

Mr. Mahajan told the press that removal of the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, would not be on the agenda of the executive. He said the issue had already been discussed at Sunday's Parliamentary Board meeting in New Delhi. "That matter is over as of now." The party was "not looking for scapegoats" and had to look ahead at the coming elections, he added.

Scotching reports that Mr. Vajpayee had been "isolated" at Sunday's meeting, Mr. Mahajan said that "whatever was discussed at the Parliamentary Board meeting had the full consent of Mr. Vajpayee."

Ahead of the executive, BJP leaders here emphasised that the party wanted to turn its attention to the "tasks ahead." A paper on this would be presented and discussed on June 24, the last day of the meeting. The party vice-president, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, said the major challenge was to revive the enthusiasm among its cadre. "The cadre need not continue to feel disappointed on account of the Lok Sabha results ... the verdict was not against us even if it was not for us," he added.

Earlier, Mr. Mahajan alleged that the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party Government in Maharashtra was "appeasing" terrorists and cited the aid of Rs. 1 lakh given by the NCP MLA, Vasant Davakhare, to the family of Ishrat Jahan killed in a police shootout in Ahmedabad recently. Mr. Mahajan took exception to this when investigations into the girl's possible terrorist links were continuing. The party also made it clear that the Centre's stated position on repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act would be viewed by it as "appeasement of terrorists."

Tomorrow, the party will take up reports from State units on the political situation and the results of the Lok Sabha elections. Gujarat would be discussed just like other States and there would be no special focus on it.

The Leader of the Opposition, L.K. Advani, is expected to intervene during the political resolution debate. The resolution itself is expected to focus on the new Central Government's weaknesses as perceived by the BJP — `tainted' Ministers, two power centres, repeal of POTA and "softness towards terrorism," and changes in textbooks initiated by the new Government.

On the last day, June 24, the BJP executive will unveil its future plans and direction — aagami disha. Ideological issues are expected to be highlighted as also the need for "expansion of the social base'' of the party. The need for seeking out new political allies, especially in Uttar Pradesh, is also likely to be taken up.

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