Process to elect BJP chief to begin soon

Process to elect BJP chief to begin soon
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, July 30: The process for election of BJP president begins on August one with Jana Krishnamurthy a strong contender.

The election to this post has so far been ensured through a consensus and this time too the party's top leadership is expected to decide on the candidate at a meeting scheduled for the first week of next month.

With Home Minister L K Advani having stated that current president Kushabhau Thakre wanted to be relieved of the post on health grounds, there is a strong indication that Krishnamurthy, senior vice president, is the likely successor.

An interesting angle to the election would be non-participation of states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Orissa and Manipur where organisational elections were not held.

With the party having made inroads in the southern States in the last election, party sources felt that Krishnamurthy assuming office would send the right signal to the party's rank and file in those regions.