RSS asks Advani to oversee BJP succession planIndia News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

The Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) reportedly asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership this morning to work on a blueprint that it has handed over to ensure a smooth succession. According to sources, Leader of Opposition LK Advani has been asked to preside over the exercise. Sources also said that Advani had been told to step down after ensuring speedy implementation of the plan, but the RSS has left the timing of Advani's exit to him. Sources also said that the BJP is likely to announce the succession plan shortly. It is being reported that Sushma Swaraj, currently the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is likely to replace Advani as Leader of Opposition in the same House. There are also reports that the RSS wants the BJP president being someone from outside Delhi circles. These latest developments come shortly after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had a breakfast meeting with Advani this morning, and it is believed that both discussed a proposed succession plan for the latter. The leaderships of the two organisations reiterated that they were united in working on solutions to end the present crisis in the BJP. Sunday's breakfast meeting between Advani and Bhagwat was the second between the two. Today's meeting took place even as senior RSS leader Madan Das Devi told a press conference that he was confident about the BJP taking appropriate steps to resolve all of its problems. At Sunday's breakfast meeting Bhagwat was accompanied by Madandas Devi, and it is expected that discussions on a new roadmap for the BJP, including a possible change of leadership, will continue.