he BJP is looking at the option of putting its house in order this weekend. The party is expected to hold the meeting of its Parliamentary party on Friday and appoint the Leader of Opposition, Mr L.K. Advani, as chairman of the Parliamentary Party. If Mr Advani is appointed as the chairman of the BJP parliamentary party, his deputy in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, is likely to replace him as the Leader of Opposition.
However, on Saturday, the BJP will announce the name of its new party chief when its parliamentary board meets. Maharashtra state unit president, Mr Nitin Gadkari, is all set to replace Mr Rajnath Singh as BJP chief. Mr Singh will be stepping down to make way for his successor on December 19. Mr Gadkari has been called to Delhi to take charge. The decision to make him the party chief will be ratified by the party’s National Council later. The date for the national council is yet to be decided.
Sources said the BJP intends to amend the party constitution to create the post of chairman of the Parliamentary party. When asked about Parliamentary Party meeting, Ms Swaraj declined to talk about Mr Advani’s resignation from the post of LoP. The BJP’s Parliamentary party meeting was earlier scheduled on December 21, the last day of the Winter Session. But government sources said the LS could be adjourned sine die on Friday, while RS is expected to continue till Monday.