Sunday, December 25 2005 20:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: A decision on who will head Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would be taken at the party's National Council meeting in Mumbai later this week and senior leader Rajnath Singh is being considered for the post, party Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu said here today (Dec 25,2005).

"Rajnath Singh, whose name has been circulated by many news channels and a section of the media, has definitely come under consideration. But people who are aware of our party constitution will understand that the final decision can be taken only by the National Council," Naidu, considered close to Advani, told reporters here.

He said the National Council meeting would be preceded by the National Executive which would consider the resolutions to be placed before the Council.

Naidu said there was no truth in reports that there were differences of opinion among the party leadership over Rajnath's name for the top party post.

The process of informal consultations had started but when "We meet at the National Council, a decision will be taken about the time of the formal announcement", he said.

Naidu said party President L K Advani had already made it clear that he would complete the party's silver jubilee celebrations in Mumbai and then resign.

"Only then will the formal process start. It may be the same day or next year beginning," he said.

Naidu said during informal consultations, his name was suggested by his colleagues for the President but he had made his position clear that he had already held the post earlier and "We should think in terms of electing some other leader," he said.