Tuesday, May 16 2006 15:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: With OBC voters in its mind, the BJP, which has been walking a tightrope on reservations, would formally spell out its stand on the contentious issue at its national executive meeting beginning here on May 29.

The saffron party, which has been maintaining a discreet silence on the issue even while condemning 'police brutalities' against protesting medicos, is expected to take a formal stand which would seek to strike a balance between social justice and merit, party sources said.

Responding to several party MPs who raised the issueduring the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting here today, Leader of Opposition L K Advani is understood to have asked them to give their suggestions on reservations to party President Rajnath Singh, party sources told sources.

The suggestions would be discussed at a meeting of senior party leaders ahead of the two-day national executive meeting and thereafter placed before the national executive.

The party's Ayodhya agitation was widely seen in many circles as a response to the implementation of Mandal Commission recommendations announced by the then V P Singh Government and projected as 'Mandal vs Kamandal'.

However, much water has flowed down the Saryu since then and today the saffron party not only has the maximum number of MPs from OBCs but even most of its Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers in several key states represent the backward classes.

Equally keen not to antagonise its upper caste and urban supporters, the party is expected to stress on both merit and quota for the economically backward.