Tuesday, May 30 2006 12:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Under intensified RSS influence, the BJP led by Sangh veteran Rajnath Singh today (May 30, 2006) resumed its national executive meeting here.

The RSS tightened its grip on its political wing on the first day of the BJP's two-day national executive meeting yesterday, with the party president securing sweeping powers to appoint and remove Sangh nominees as party Organising Secretaries district-level upwards.

Singh's predecessor L K Advani had to quit his post after a row he triggered with the RSS over his remarks in Pakistan on Mohammad Ali Jinnah.

Today, the party is scheduled to come out with a resolution at the end of the event attended by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, BJP chief Singh and Advani among others.

The event has also witnessed the BJP trying to strike a balance between merit and caste and class factors over the quota issue ahead of assembly elections in four states early next year.

The party yesterday emphasised the need to protect merit as it supported reservations for OBCs in educational establishments.