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PM begins talks on reshuffle

By Neena Vyas

NEW DELHI JUNE 25. A crucial round of discussions began today between the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Union Home Minister, L.K.Advani, and the Bharatiya Janata Party president, Jana Krishnamurthi, on revamping the party through the induction of some leaders who are currently in the Council of Ministers.

A decision on major changes in the party had been taken in April just before the Goa national executive committee meeting.

Mr. Advani had stated categorically at the executive on April 13 that "some people from the Government would go to the party and some in the party could go to the Government. The Prime Minister and the party president will discuss this and take a decision.''

Major changes were expected in May, but for one reason or the other, these had been put off. Now the view among several party leaders is that these changes could take place in tandem with the proposed Cabinet re-shuffle by the Prime Minister.

The three or four Ministers whose names are being mentioned among those who may be asked to work in the party are Pramod Mahajan, Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley. But this will be contingent on the Prime Minister's thinking on a Cabinet reshuffle.

BJP leaders say that the entire exercise aims at giving the party as well as the Government a new look, considered essential at a time when it has to prepare for the Assembly elections in 10 States next year and the Lok Sabha election the year after.

Official sources confirmed that the meeting at the Prime Minister's residence took place in several phases. After the initial meeting between Mr. Vajpayee, Mr. Advani and Mr. Krishnamurthi, Mr. Mahajan and the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, joined in. Still later, the Samata Party leader and Defence Minister, George Fernandes, took part in the meeting. The consultations could spill over to tomorrow.

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