Shimla, Aug 20 - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders who have gathered here for a three-day meeting to introspect on what ails the party are maintaining a studied silence on the dramatic expulsion of senior leader Jaswant Singh from the party.

The 'chintan baithak', introspection session, began Wednesday with Jaswant Singh being expelled - just two days after the release of his controversial book 'Jinnah - India - Partition - Independence'.

While Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Khimi Ram and former union minister Shanta Kumar refused to comment on the issue, Vijay Goel, who is also here for the meeting, reacted only to Jaswant Singh's reaction that he was 'sad and regretful'.

'His reaction was dignified,' Goel said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior party leader said the move to expel Jaswant Singh had more to do with the book.

'The writing of the book was not the only, but one of the several reasons, for his expulsion by the party,' he said.