Mumbai: The stage is set for the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) important four-day "chintan baithak" (brainstorming session), beginning on June 17 night in Thane district with the party bigwigs, including Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, likely to deliberate over a slew of issues ranging from "right time" for next general elections and relations with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and allies.

"The meeting will be a free exchange of views and the party's top leadership will consider all important issues threadbare," BJP sources said on June 17.

Matters like when it would be favourable to hold Lok Sabha polls – with BJP setting a target of 300 seats, the strategy for coming Assembly elections in five states, the party's relationship with the Sangh Parivar fountainhead – RSS, its relations with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies and how to counter the Opposition, would figure during the closed door conclave, the sources said.

Similarly, the meeting will take stock of performance of Vajpayee-led NDA government, party's strength in various states and whether it should have separate manifesto, they said.

The meeting, slated to be held at 'Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini' at Uttan (Bhayander) in Thane district, is to be attended by senior leaders of the BJP and RSS.

PTI