After 12 years, and for the first time since the BJP came to power at the Centre, the five-day chintan baithak (introspection conclave) will review the performance of all Sangh Parivar constituents and decide their future course. Along the way, it might just redefine the relationship between the parent organisation Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and its increasingly truant political arm, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The conclave's first phase is largely devoted to presentations by the different constituents and discussions. The crucial second phase, towards the weekend, is expected to see fireworks where the BJP is likely to get a strong dose for its ``indifference'' to other Sangh Parivar members and for its performance in the government.

Perceived erosion of the Hindutva voterbase and dilution of swadeshi, reflected in the controversyover the Insurance Bill and the distancing of the BJP from the VHP, are likely to be discussed threadbare.

However, for a meet of this importance, precious little information is divulged. It is next to impossible to breach the cordon of secrecy at the Hegdewar Smarak grounds, the RSS headquarters, where the conclave has been organised.

Nearly 400 delegates from across the country are reportedly attending the conclave but everybody down the hierarchy ladder is housed in the RSS complex cordoned off by several rounds of ``swayamsevaks'' in their trademark khakhi shorts and black caps. In fact, so complete is the secrecy and security that even volunteers who do not have a role in the conclave must seek appointments with the higher authorities during lunch hours or after the day's proceedings.

Several affiliate schools rescheduled their timing to suit the conclave: schoolboys also in khakhi shorts acted as the first cordon of security. ``Whatever we want to say, we will say at the appropriatetime. Why is there so much curiosity about our meetings...these are an internal and organisational matter of the Parivar,'' said a local leader when persuaded by reporters to let them enter.

Both Sarsanghchalak Rajendra Singh or Rajju Bhaiyya and general secretary H V Seshadri will attend all five days. Other important participants include BJP chief Kushabhau Thakre, VHP's Acharya Giriraj Kishore, Dattopant Thengdi of the labour wing and S. Gurumurthy of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch.

Other sangh parivar constituents in the conclave are the RSS womens' wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the RSS Foreigh Affairs Cell, the Bharatiya Vikas Parishad, Adhivakta Parishad (advocates forum), Rashtriya Sikh Sangat, Vidya Bharati. Significantly, neither Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee nor Home Minister LK Advani's arrival is expected. As a veteran volunteer remarked, they are the government side of the BJP. Important but not more than the organisation itself.