The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) is set to nominate a new chief for itself in a bid to infuse new life into the organisation that is currently leading the movement for the construction of a Hindu temple in place of razed 16th century Babri Masjid at Ayodhya.

Facing flak over his inept handling of the rally of the organisation at Ayodhya, which was foiled by the Uttar Pradesh government, the VHP supremo and its working president Ashok Singhal has announced his decision to hand over reins of the organisation to Dr. Praveen Togadia, a firebrand activist and a former surgeon.

Singhal announced his retirement from his native Allahabad on Thursday, saying it was time to groom the younger generation.

Although Singhal took the plea of his "advanced age and poor health" as the reason behind his decision, VHP circles suggest that he has not taken kindly to the failure of his ambitious Ayodhya rally and may have decided to quit centre stage rather than see a decline in his authority.

While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership has never been comfortable with Singhal, his repeated tirades against Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was also not appreciated by the parent organisation the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which is more understanding about the limitations of the coalition government in matters regarding the construction of the Ayodhya temple.

The recent death of Mahant Ramchandra Param-hans, chief of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (trust) and subsequent appointment of Mahant Nirtya Gopal Das are also seen as personal setbacks for Singhal. Das has gone on record saying Singhal wanted a far more radical person as chief of the Nyas than he.

Das had also said that he along with Mahant Avaidyanath, overall chief of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was opposed to holding the failed Ayodhya rally, suggesting the correct venue for the gathering should have been New Delhi. The aim of the rally, they said, was to force the Parliament pass a legislation paving way for construction of the temple without waiting for the court ruling.

Although Singhal on Thursday hailed Vajpayee as a great individual and said he could do a lot to facilitate the passage of the legislation they have been demanding, he lost no time in putting the blame on Vajpayee for deceiving the VHP, asserting Vajpayee's secular agenda is ruining the BJP.

"BJP's has grown riding on the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. It's a mistake they are committing since their lifeline is dependent on this movement. Sooner or later the BJP will have to brace this agenda," Singhal said

SUCCESOR

An activist with a radical streak
- Frustrated with the lack of cooperation form the BJP , the VHP working president Ashok Singhal may have tried to teach the BJP a lesson by appointing Praveen Togadia as his successor.

- Togadia is seen as a firebrand leader, bordering on the brink of being labelled a radical. He was arrested recently in Rajasthan for threatening communal harmony by distributing tridents.

- A cancer specialist, Togadia is currently fighting another battle: threat of cancellation of his registration by the Medical Council of India, which says since Togadia does not practice any more, his registration should be cancelled.