National

BJP chief hints at party restructuring

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI APRIL 1. A major re-structuring of the BJP with responsibility and accountability at various levels will be undertaken soon, the party president, Jana Krishnamurthi, indicated today. Although most of this would be done after the Goa national executive meeting of the party from April 12 to 14, some announcements may be made even before the meeting.

While virtually ruling out BJP ministers in the Central Government being inducted into the party in a type of Kamaraj plan, Mr. Krishnamurthi said that he had written to ministers asking them to devote at least four days a month entirely to party work. He rejected the idea of a change at the very top of the party structure, brushing it aside lightly with ``it seems the press does not want me to continue as BJP president.'' That was his response when asked whether reports that the Union Home Minister, L.K.Advani, was likely to come back as party president and Mr .Krishnamurthi was to be inducted into the Cabinet were true.

Mr. Krishnamurthi admitted that recent electoral reverses faced by the party needed to be thoroughly analysed and action would have to be taken to stop this. It was not a small matter, and the hint was that a major re-structuring was in the offing. However, at this stage he was not willing to disclose what those steps might be, pointing out that he had to discuss them with his senior colleagues first.

He did indicate that a major programme to make grassroots contact with the people would be launched by the party, and everyone, including ministers, would be expected to make the effort.

At the Goa executive meeting there would be a resolution on the budget and extensive discussions on the reasons for electoral reverses. Reports from the States which went to polls and from Gujarat would also be presented to the executive. A statement on the Godhra incident and the violence that followed may also be adopted at the executive.

Statements have already come from some BJP leaders virtually blaming the budget for the party's misfortune in the Delhi municipal polls, and therefore it may not come as a surprise if the budget comes in for criticism at the executive, even if gently presented along with ``suggestions.''

The Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, who was here today to attend the meeting of the Water Resources Council, met Mr. Krishnamurthi over lunch to brief him on the latest situation in the State, torn by violence for over a month. Although details of what transpired were not known, there were indications from party sources that Mr. Modi's job was safe.

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