BJP leaders to brainstorm on prez polls today

The BJP is set to hold a series of high-profile meetings on Monday to plan its campaign for presidential candidate PA Sangma, who is being backed by the AIADMK, BJD, BJP and AGP.

The BJP is set to hold a series of high-profile meetings on Monday to plan its campaign for presidential candidate PA Sangma, who is being backed by the AIADMK, BJD, BJP and AGP.

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The central office-bearers of the party will meet on Monday afternoon at BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s residence to chalk out a plan to garner as much support as possible for Sangma, who is seen to be trailing UPA candidate Pranab Mukherjee by a wide margin. NDA constituents Shiv Sena and the Janata Dal (United) are also backing Mukherjee.

Later in the evening, BJP chief ministers will fly down to Delhi to meet at party patriarch LK Advani’s residence.

These meeting are likely to be seen with great interest even for reasons outside the presidential polls, especially on account of the ongoing feud between Karnataka chief minister Sadanand Gowda and BJP strongman BS Yeddyurappa.

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will also be present in the Capital for the meet, a Gujarat official said. The BJP has already appointed Ananth Kumar and SS Ahluwalia to coordinate BJP’s campaign for Sangma.

Meanwhile, Sangma was in his constituency, Tura in Meghalaya, as part of his presidential campaign and to participate in an all-faith prayer meeting. Sangma has played on his tribal identity to the hilt during the campaign, seeing his candidature in terms of tribal aspirations to occupy the prized post.