CHENNAI, DEC 27: The national executive of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday has set aside all contentious issues and reaffirmed its commitment to the national agenda of governance adopted by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).The party functionaries met here in preparation for the two-day national council of the party beginning on Tuesday. Briefing reporters about the deliberations of the national executive, chaired by party president Kushabhau Thakre in the absence of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani, who were busy tackling the hijack crisis, party spokesman Venkaiah Naidu said the party had merged its agenda in the national agenda for governance (NAG).This was contained in the Chennai declaration, the draft of which was released to reporters on Monday. It would be adopted after deliberation in the national council.Naidu, however, refused to answer questions on whether the party had shelved the contentious issues such as Ram temple, UniformCivil Code and Abrogation of article 370.``Our agenda had been merged with the NAG. What we have is only the jhanda (party flag),'' Naidu said adding that despite the hijack crisis, the national council would go ahead with its deliberations as the party's organisational election process had to begin next January.
