Prakash Javadekar told mediapersons that the BJP's parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh, had not chalked out a succession plan on Friday, and neither had the BJP leadership discussed the issue at Saturday's meeting at Advani's residence in the national capital.
"No succession plan was discussed. No change in leadership or posts was discussed," Javadekar said, adding that over the past couple of days, the RSS had only come forward with suggestions that could "pave the way for a more smooth functioning of the BJP".
According to sources within the BJP, the party's top brass including Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu and Sushma Swaraj held a four-hour meeting on Friday night. Jaitley, who is tipped to replace Rajnath Singh as the BJP chief, left for Mumbai after the meeting.
Though Swaraj urged the BJP leaders to lend their support to L K Advani, few were willing to stand by the octogenarian leader during the present crisis, said the sources.
Speaking about the meeting, the party spokesperson said, "BJP leaders met the RSS chief and had a cordial dialogue. There was no mention about either leadership change or resignations by some leaders. The BJP will chart out its own course of action and will continue its fight on behalf of the masses on the issues of national and public importance".
He also threatened legal action against some television channels and newspapers who are allegedly trying to represent information, about the cash-for-votes drama in the Parliament, in a distorted manner.
Reacting to the comments that were being aired in the media by expelled party leader Jaswant Singh against the BJP and its present leadership, Javadekar said, "We continue to respect Jaswant Singh even after his comments. We don't want to say anything. But the fact of the matter is that if a leader who once belonged to the BJP and spoke well of it while he was a member for years, now chooses to criticize its policies on the hour, the people will realize soon enough who is right and who is wrong."
Jaswant Singh has been targeting Advani on the latter's views on Pakistan founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah, and his role in the 1999 Kandahar hijack case and the July 2008 Cash for Vote scam.
Javadekar's statement to the media came as Advani arrived at the RSS's Delhi headquarters -- Keshavkunj -- for a meeting with its chief Mohan Bhagwat.
The meeting is taking place amid reports that the RSS has readied a succession plan for the BJP, a plan that could facilitate an end to the internal crisis ravaging the party's rank and file.
The RSS is believed to have told the BJP leadership to set its house in order. In a sign that this is being given serious thought, top brass of the BJP met at Advani's residence on Saturday morning for about two hours and briefed him about their discussions with Bhagwat on Friday.
Sources said that the RSS has firmly asked BJP leaders to end infighting in the party and reach a consensus on a new party chief. The decision to call Jaitley and Swaraj together to a meeting at the RSS headquarters is seen as very significant, as they are the leading contenders for the party leadership, sparking speculation that a power-sharing arrangement might have been arrived at.
According to a senior BJP leader, Advani is trying to secure an 'honourable exit' and wants to serve as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha for another five to six months.
"Rajnath Singh sought another term as the BJP chief but the RSS chief shot it down and proposed the name of Arun Jaitley instead. Dr Joshi also wants to become the Leader of Opposition in place of Advani," the BJP leader told rediff.com.
Additional inputs from ANI
