BJP Keeps Ideology, Slams Indiscipline

BJP president Rajnath Singh, while taking the responsibility of party’s defeat in general elections, has said that senior party leader LK Advani will continue to lead BJP and admitted that party needs to expand its base.

“If someone is to be held accountable, I take responsibility for the defeat,” Singh said addressing media persons in Shimla after Chintan Baithak.

He announced that senior leader L K Advani would continue to lead the party. “Advaniji is our leader and he will continue to be our leader.”

He talked about the road ahead for the saffron party, reiterating that the party was committed to its ideology and will expand geographically.

“BJP is committed to its ideology. And our ideology is comprehensive and inclusive,” said Rajnath.

“There will not be any compromise on discipline and ideology. Political ideology and thought is non-negotiable,” he added.

On the topic of discipline, he said that no compromise would be made on this count.

“What I have done, you have seen it–there will be no compromise on indiscipline,” he said when asked what the BJP would do about leaders criticizing the party’s decisions.

He announced that the BJP had prepared an ‘action plan’ to expand its geographical and social base. The plan will be presented for approval at a conclave in September.

“We will come out with a future action plan, you can call it the road ahead, on the basis of suggestions during the three-day chintan baithak (introspection session). The larger goal would be the social and geographical expansion of the party,” he said.

BJP should emerge as pro-poor, pro-farmer, pro-village and pro-middle class party, said Singh.

As for the party’s drubbing in general elections, Singh said that there is no draft report on poll losses. Nevertheless, he said that Indians want a bipolar polity.

“Indians want a bipolar polity. The Third Front mess helped the Congress this election,” he said.