BJP leaders in Ahmedabad to discuss forming govt

NEW DELHI, May 14 (PTI): Senior BJP leaders are in Ahmedabad to meet the party's prime ministerial candidate after exit polls predicted a win for the Modi-led NDA.

Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and party chief Rajnath Singh are in the Gujarat capital to discuss the post-poll scenario.

BJP top brass has into a huddle to discuss the possibility of the party forming the government at the Centre and changes in the organisation ahead of counting of votes  May 16.

BJP leaders also discussed the possibility of seeking the support of some allies including the BJD, AIADMK and NCP.

The party has already made it clear that it is not averse to receiving the support from any party which even has a single MP and will welcome it if it supports the BJP agenda.

Senior BJP leaders held a series of meetings in the capital since morning with party president Rajnath Singh meeting Sushma Swaraj at her residence here, before she flew to Bhopal.

Former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari also met her on Wednesday. The meeting lasted around half an hour. Gadkari is playing an active role in negotiating with groups within the party. He had on Tuesday met BJP patriarch L K Advani amid speculation about his role in the next government.

Senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah also held a meeting at the former's residence to discuss the situation arising out of exit poll results that favour an NDA government from coming to power.

Speculation is also rife about some changes in the party if NDA comes to power. Sources in the party feel that there is unlikely to be any change in the party leadership and Rajnath Singh may have to continue as party chief, though Gadkari's name is also being floated to replace him.

Gadkari on his part has ruled out his taking over the party and said Rajnath will continue to steer the party as he had ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

Sources point out that RSS has also advised the BJP not to weaken the party in case it forms the government and that the pary should remain strong and vibrant even after a BJP-led government comes to power.

Meanwhile: Three persons were killed Wednesday in police firing following communal clashes sparked by alleged burning of a religious flag by some persons in Kishanbagh area of the Old City.

Police clamped indefinite curfew under Rajendranagar police station limits after the clashes, which left 17 people, including ten police personnel, injured in heavy stone pelting.

Trouble broke out after members of a community noticed that a religious flag was burnt at a flag post in an open ground near a hillock, police said.