BJP’s script for Mumbai has no word on Advani

Pramod Mahajan, the man in charge of the ‘Mumbai Adhiveshan’ made it clear that he does not want his nostalgia-and-hope show to get clouded over by the rather more pressing (and depressing) presidential question.

‘‘I can give you a guarantee that nothing will happen till the midnight of December 30. Na kisi ka tyaag patra hoga aur na kisi ka tajposhi. (No one will resign and no one will be coronated),’’ Mahajan told the media today. Whatever has to happen will happen after ‘‘my adhiveshan’’ is over, Mahajan underlined more than once.

Keen to keep the spotlight on the ‘‘celebrations’’ — being held at the same site in Bandra where the erstwhile Jana Sangh component emerged out of the Janata Party debris to form the BJP in December 1980 — Mahajan has asked all party leaders to steer clear of any talk on the new president for now.

He called on Advani this morning to implore him ‘‘not to say a word’’ on the subject till after December 30. Advani readily agreed for it suits him too. With his successor remaining a mystery, Advani can preside over the silver jubilee celebrations with his ‘‘authority intact’’ and not be treated as a lameduck president. But the reprieve cannot last beyond a day or two, sources in the party said.

After all, back in September, Advani had announced his intention ‘‘to demit office’’ after the Mumbai Adhiveshan and can hardly go back on that commitment now. In all likelihood, therefore, Advani will formally step down on December 31, sources said — so that the BJP can have a new president in the New Year.

But it is a measure of continuing differences at the top that even three months after Advani gave notice, the BJP leadership has been unable to clinch the issue of his successor. In fact, the party remains unclear about whether the new president will be ‘‘ad hoc’’ or ‘‘ permanent’’, will serve a full three-year term or just the remaining year of Venkaiah Naidu’s presidency.

Reflecting one school of thought, a senior national executive member insisted that a ‘‘three year term is co-terminous with the person and not the post’’, while others argue just the reverse. No, they say, the next president will only be around for a year. He or she can be re-elected in 2007 for a full term, of course, but that would depend on who he or she turns out to be.

A powerful group in the party is advocating a mutual relay race between Advani and his protege Venkaiah Naidu — i.e. Naidu who handed over the baton to Advani mid-way through his term takes it back from Advani now to complete his original term. In that case, he will definitely be a ‘‘stop-gap’’ president, warming the seat till one among the Generation Next takes over next year.

But the RSS — and large sections of the BJP as well — would prefer a full-fledged president to start a new chapter in the new year. Rajnath Singh remains a strong contender and Murli Manohar Joshi too harbours hopes of returning from the cold.