'If a senior leader can be sacked from the party without being given an opportunity to explain his viewpoint, ordinary party workers stand nowhere,' said another leader, echoing similar views of others.

Still others were more diplomatic. Himachal Pradesh BJP chief Khimi Ram said: 'We are busy in holding the party's national meet. We are not supposed to speak on the 'chintan baithak' (introspection session).'

Vijay Goel, national general secretary, said the media would be briefed about the 'chintan baithak' after the conclusion of the brainstorming session (Aug 21).

Political observer S.D. Sharma remarked: 'Shimla is considered jinxed for crucial meetings and conclaves. Most of the decisions taken here in the past on crucial issues, from the Simla Agreement to the roundtable conference before independence became controversial or unfruitful. It seems the 'chintan baithak' too started on an inauspicious note (expulsion of Jaswant Singh).'

The three-day 'chintan baithak' began Wednesday with the sacking of Jaswant Singh, just two days after the release of his controversial book 'Jinnah - India - Partition - Independence'.