Murlidhar Rao to work on consensus

Dinesh Manhotra

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Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 10

The BJP high command has decided to depute its national general-secretary P Murlidhar Rao to evolve consensus on the name of first elected president of the newly created Union Territory (UT) of J&K after taking all senior leaders on board.

Sources said deputing Rao to Jammu was significant as he had shaped political careers of many senior leaders of the local BJP during his tenure as organisation secretary of J&K ABVP in early 1990s.

“Interestingly, Rao is in charge of southern states, but has especially been deputed to Jammu to take all senior leaders on board,” a source said.

During his two-day visit to Jammu, on December 13 and 14, Rao will hold talks with senior leaders including, MPs, former legislators and ex-ministers, to seek their opinion about the president of J&K BJP.

“Rao will use his influence to evolve consensus among all senior leaders,” a source said, adding, “After meeting all leaders, Rao will submit his report to the party high command for taking the decision on the president”.

Although the BJP high-command has already announced to appoint two observers for the conduct of elections, the party has taken the decision to depute Rao only to get authentic feedback. Rao is aware of the ground situation of J&K as he (Rao) had worked in the state as a “pracharak” of the ABVP in the early 1990s when terrorism was on its peak.

Sources said the date of the party president’s elections would be announced after Murlidhar Rao would submit his report to the high command.

“Earlier incumbent president Ravinder Raina was sure to retain the top position, but now the situation has changed after some senior leaders have staked their claims,” a source said and revealed that the party leadership would try to evolve consensus “at any cost” to avoid election.