The BJP top leadership huddled in a series of closed-door meetings on Wednesday to discuss the party’s strategy in the event of getting a mandate for government formation.

A meeting of the BJP’s top decision-making body, the parliamentary board, has been tentatively scheduled for about 4 pm on May 16, the result day.

Barring LK Advani, whose inclusion in a Narendra Modi-led government is being considered unlikely, most members of the parliamentary board are expected to be part of the next Union Cabinet. Murli Manohar Joshi, another veteran whose fate is uncertain, has reportedly bought surety from the RSS that he will be accommodated.

Sushma Swaraj, the only remaining ally of Advani in the parliamentary board and a critic of Modi, is not just expected to join the Cabinet but be among the top four ministers to occupy Raisina Hills.

Although she has remained aloof during the entire election campaign, Swaraj was certainly part of the pre-result discussions.

Party president Rajnath Singh met her, as did former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, in Delhi before she flew off to Bhopal.

BJP general secretary Amit Shah and senior leader Arun Jaitley, two leaders who are part of Modi’s inner circle, have been in close touch to discuss issues ranging from allies to government formation, likely members of the Cabinet and finding a successor for Modi in Gujarat.

Rajnath, Jaitley and Gadkari are in Ahmedabad to discuss the succession issue with Modi.

Gadkari negotiates Gadkari seems to have emerged as the negotiator with the various camps within the party. He was seen driving to Swaraj’s residence today and had met Advani on Tuesday.

After the Income Tax Department recently clarified that there is no inquiry pending against him or any of his business concerns, there has been speculation about him replacing Rajnath as BJP president.

Gadkari was the RSS’ original choice to continue as BJP president in 2012 but last-minute raids on his business premises forced him to withdraw him from the race.

Rajnath took over from Gadkari for a second term in the BJP president’s office. Now that Rajnath seems to be leading the BJP to a victory as the exit polls predict, his possible move to join the government prompted speculations about Gadkari filling the vacancy. These speculations, however, have so far been rubbished, both by the BJP and Gadkari himself.

Rajnath, on his part, has asserted that he would like to “continue serving in the party organisation”.

On the allies front, the BJP has thus far opened channels only with Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal and J Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK.

Jaitley is responsible for stitching up the BJP’s alliance with the BJD and Modi himself is reportedly talking to Jayalalithaa.

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