Advani as BJP president?

Sangh Priya Gautam, a Dalit leader from Uttar Pradesh and Rajya Sabha member, stunned the Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive in Mumbai on Wednesday by proposing that former deputy prime minister Lal Kishenchand Advani take over the party's charge.

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Participating in a discussion on Uttar Pradesh, Gautam said for effective coordination with party workers at various levels the leader of the opposition should also be the party's president.

Several BJP leaders have admitted in private that party chief Venkaiah Naidu has proved ineffective in dealing with pressures from various quarters.

A senior leader said Naidu often took his cues from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh on crucial issues.

Recently, when Vajpayee created a stir by listing Gujarat riots as one the reasons for the BJP's defeat in the general election, Naidu's reaction came only after RSS chief K S Sudarshan came out in Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's defence.

Gautam reminded the gathering that the party at this juncture needs leaders like Kushabhau Thakre and Sundersinh Bhandari, who were heard with respect in the party.

When asked to react on Gautam's suggestion to give more responsibility to Advani, party spokesman Arun Jaitley first denied that Gautam had made any such suggestion, but then added, "There are no such plans. Party won't accept his suggestion."