Venkaiah Naidu ready to quit

NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 18 (PTI) BJP President M Venkaiah Naidu today offered to resign from the post in the wake of the party's poor performance in Maharashtra Assembly elections but it was rejected by the senior leadership.

Naidu made the offer during his meetings with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani, party sources said.

Naidu offered to resign owning "moral responsibility" for the poor show at the hustings in Maharashtra, the sources said.

"The party chief is also saddened by the recent squabbles in the party and media reports talking about power struggle," they said, adding he is adamant on quitting.

Both Vajpayee and Advani have rejected his offer and are persuading him to withdraw it.

In view of the development, BJP has called an emergency meeting of National Executive members today, the party sources said.

The meeting will discuss whether to consider Naidu's offer.

According to leaders, RSS has also disfavoured Naidu's resignation although it has suggested restructuring of the party.