Singh and some other leaders in the party believe Hindutva is key to win back the Hindi heartland, but some believe much more is required to widen the BJP's appeal, especially among dalits and youth.

The meetings of the BJP's national executive and national council comes at a time when the party appears to be fraught with dissent among its top leaders and with a sense of directionlessness among cadres.

Under Singh, whose re-election as party chief is scheduled to be ratified by the national council, the BJP has staunchly opposed the India-US nuclear deal and has been hawkish on New Delhi's peace process with Islamabad.

Also, the saffron party has been severely critical of minority welfare programmes of the ruling UPA, which has completed the halfway mark almost effortlessly and is now trying to expand its influence among OBCs.

The BJP chief, who upset many of his colleagues for allowing the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh a greater role in the organisation, has his prestige at stake as he virtually faces a challenge from within the party to prove his mettle in his home state where elections are due early in 2007.

Signs of the RSS' full support to Singh emerged ahead of the party's ratification of his re-election as BJP chief as Sangh mouthpiece described him as a "mass leader" and the one who is "committed" and "uncompromising" on principles.

He has made it clear that party's commitment to ideology is key to its credibility and that there should be no deviation from it for vote politics.

The party, he believes, should rather reinforce its credibility among the masses.

Despite the hype the BJP had sought to generate over its good showing in the Uttar Pradesh civic elections, insiders admit that the real test of its popularity -- and that of its president -- lies ahead in the assembly polls in the state where the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party are a dominant force.

The BJP has ruled out the possibility of alliance with regional parties ahead of the state elections, but instead says it will prefer to lead the government to supporting any other party as part of any post-poll understanding.

It, however, has indicated that it is ready for a seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh with National Democratic Alliance ally Janata Dal (United), which is believed to have reached an understanding with local group Apna Dal.

Since its last meeting in Dehra Dun, the party has lost power in Jharkhand where its shrinking political space also came to the fore with former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, who parted ways with BJP getting a spectacular win in a Lok Sabha bypoll.

Besides, recent months have seen undercurrents of tension with its ally in Karnataka where the saffron party shares power with the Janata Dal (Secular).

Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had joined the BJP's campaign in the recent civic elections in the state in a sign of his support to Singh, is scheduled to address a party rally in Lucknow on Sunday.

The BJP's national executive, which is scheduled to meet on Friday, is expected to adopt resolutions on internal security and "minority appeasement" and economy.

In accordance with party customs, it will be addressed by Singh, Vajpayee and L K Advani.

The national executive will be followed by a two-day meeting of the BJP's national council to ratify Singh's re-election to the post.