New Delhi: The BJP-RSS is pulling out all the stops to retain power at centre as polling enters final stage amid concerns that the NDA may not touch the half-way mark on its own.
Even though it claims to be confident of a win, the BJP is trying to rope in indecisive regional parties.
The BJP leadership has already started initiatives to stitch alliances to form government, without waiting for the results.
The RSS is actively involved in the process, similar to the post-Emergency and 2014 polls.
The Sangh wants another Modi term in New Delhi.
Though Modi rejected the chance of small parties forming government without the BJP and Congress, the BJP has taken such a probability seriously.
The BJP will want small parties like YSR Congress to be its allies, if NDA fails to win absolute majority.
The party is likely to send emissaries to woo Navin Patnaik’s BJD and K Chandrasekhara Rao’s TRS also.
The BJP is not quite confident of repeating its 2014 performance in the northern states.
State leaderships have been urged to try their best to win as many seats in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
There is talk that Amit Shah may be part of the new government.
So, some senior leaders are eyeing the party president's post.
If BJP comes to power again, Shah is expected to claim a key position in the ministry.
Party insiders say he could become home minister, an arrangement similar to the Modi-Shah dispensation in Gujarat.
Top leaders are vying to make an impression on RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Bhaiyyaji Joshi for the top slot in the party.
Talks about a new president were in the air even from the first phase of polls.
The RSS would not mind Shah continuing as BJP president, but it would also not want him to be restricted to party responsibilities if he delivers a dazzling victory.
Shah was elevated to the post in July 2014 after Rajnath Singh became home minister.
He completed Singh’s term and was re-elected in 2016. Shah was given a one-year extension after his three-year tenure ended in 2019 January.