Click to play videoNew Delhi: Even as leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, L K Advani on Saturday reached the Jhandewalan RSS office to discuss the party's future, it has become clear that talks have begun to allow him a graceful exit.
And it's not just Advani. BJP President Rajnath Singh will also have to make way for a new leader.
RSS Chief Mohanrao Bhagwat is helping the party, which is in complete disarray, to make these crucial decisions. But when will these changes happen?
BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta says, "The question is - is there going to be a change of leadership in the BJP? If there is a change, what is the best time for it? As of now I think there is a consensus veering around to that the present arrangement has to give way. I don't think there has been any real settlement over the choice of potential successors. But everyone recognises that there has to be a change. That's where the matter stands at present."
The timing of the change is critical. Effecting the leadership transition ahead of the October Assembly polls could mean pushing the new leadership to baptism by fire.
Bhagwat - after consulting everybody including regional leaders - may want the BJP to usher in a change before the new year.
The BJP though has now retreated to a denial mode.
BJP Spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar says, "We have had meetings but there was no discussion on people resigning or of a change in leadership."
However, a leadership change doesn't automatically mean a generational change.
The party may take the conservative route of retaining Arun Jaitley as leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and elevate Sushma Swaraj to leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Meanwhile, for the all important presidential role, the RSS is prescribing a consensual approach. It says why not choose a non-controversial face; a face that doesn't threaten the ambitious others, a face like that of the unambitious Bal Apte or possibly even the tried and tested Venkaiah Naidu.
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