The three-day Chintan Shivir (brainstorming session) of the constituents of the Sangh Parivar, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, began on Thursday with the refrain being 'coordination'.
The meet was attended by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani, BJP chief M Venkaiah Naidu, senior general secretary Pramod Mahajan, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief K S Sudershan and leaders of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.
The emphasis on better coordination is significant in the light of the recent criticism heaped on the Vajpayee government's economic policies, especially in the context of the World Trade Organisation, divestment and labour laws.
Briefing reporters, RSS leader Madan Das Devi said MPs could evolve a mechanism whereby the Sangh constituents could exchange ideas on various issues and thus avoid misunderstandings.
Das was evasive when asked whether Sangh constituents would help the BJP during the November assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chhattisgarh, saying it was entirely up to them.
However, the defeat of the BJP in Delhi in the last assembly polls was widely attributed to RSS cadres not participating in the election campaign.
During the April 4-5 BJP national executive in Indore, Mahajan indicated that the party would mobilize 10,000 dedicated workers in each state for campaigning.
Since the present meeting is expected to iron out differences among the constituents of the Sangh Parivar, there is a strong possibility that many RSS workers would help the BJP in the four states.
The BJP leadership is willing to placate the Sangh affiliates with electoral benefits for their cooperation, which is why the Chintan Shivir has been summoned.
On Indo-Pak relations, Das welcomed Prime Minister Vajpayee's offer of friendship to Pakistan, but cautioned about the pitfalls.
