Rajesh Sinha/DNA

New Delhi, Dec 15: The BJP is desperate for a revival in Rajasthan. In the face of continuing differences between state president Om Mathur and former chief minister Vasundhara Raje, which largely contributed to the BJP’s debacle in Rajasthan, party leaders have taken resort to astrology.

Efforts are now on to resolve all internal problems and arrive at a solution by December 15 as the period after this date is “inauspicious”. Party workers said the decision to appoint VK Malhotra as BJP’s chief ministerial candidate in Delhi was taken during pitrapaksha, which is apparently an inauspicious period. As a result, the BJP fared badly in the Delhi assembly elections, they said.

“A similar mistake was made in Utttar Pradesh in 1996, when they decided to make
Kalyan Singh the chief minister during pitrapaksha. Now the BJP is finished in that state,” said the workers.

The party workers said the Congress never takes any important decision during pitrapaksha. “For all the party’s progressive outlook, they never make astrological mistakes. The only difference is they go about such things quietly. Do you find them announcing anything now? Even Sonia Gandhi takes care not to step out during rahu kaal,” they said.

With just a day left for the auspicious phase to end, the two state leaders were summoned by party president Rajnath Singh to New Delhi. Raje and Mathur first met senior leader Venkaiah Naidu at his residence. Raje then went to Rajnath Singh’s house.

The final meeting was held at the residence of leader of opposition LK Advani in the presence of Singh and Naidu. After the meeting, Mathur and Raje left without speaking to the media. Advani, Singh and Naidu  remained closeted till evening. Sources said the meeting yielded no solution.