NEW DELHI, July 18: Two senior RSS pracharaks in the BJP - Kushabhau Thakre and Sunder Singh Bhandari - are emerging as the strongest contenders to succeed L K Advani who relinquishes the post of party president in November.While BJP circles put Thakre as the frontrunner for the crucial post, Bhandari, who is among the seniormost leaders in the party, is considered a close rival.Thakre is the general secretary overseeing organisation work from the central office. Bhandari is senior vice president and a fourth-term Rajya Sabha MP.The choice of Sangh pracharaks instead of mainstream BJP politicians for the party's top post is in line with the decision taken at the high-level conclave in Virar in January this year to put organisational restructuring at the top of the BJP's agenda.The narrowing down of the choice to Thakre and Bhandari is a blow to the second generation of leaders, assiduously built up by Advani. They had hoped that his successor would be chosen from among them. However, the continuing in-fighting and dissidence in the party has prompted the powers-that-be to opt for a strong Sangh idealogue in the hope that he will restore order in the ranks.Thakre is known as a good organisation man who has been a troubleshooter for a long time. Bhandari's seniority puts him head and shoulders above the rank and file. He is highly respected and knows the party inside out.The final decision will be taken only after October 15 when the state units are scheduled to complete their organisational elections. And while party circles are reconciled to the ascendancy of a RSS pracharak, there is considerable anxiety on which of the two will ultimately make it.According to party sources, the choice largely depends on the role Advani will play in the BJP after he steps down. This role has not been defined yet although his recently completed rath yatra was the first step towards creating a new profile for a leader who has dominated the face of the BJP for more than a decade.Advani supporters in the party are desperately lobbying for a kind of ``super-president'' status for him which will allow him to retain control over the organisation.This means creating a new post through an amendment to the party constitution. But more than that, it means choosing a president who can work with Advani and who will defer to him.Thakre is said to be ideally suited for this. He enjoys a good rapport with Advani which has served the party in good stead over the years when Thakre was general secretary and Advani, president.Bhandari, on the other hand, is far too senior to function in Advani's shadow. In fact, he was in the running for the party's top post every time the question of change came up, even when Advani became president the first time in 1985.
