Discussions are on for formation of new government at Centre as Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi yesterday reached out to party elders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.

The focus of the discussions among the BJP top brass and the RSS appeared to be on the positions that could be offered to the veterans, like the post of Lok Sabha Speaker to Advani, keeping in view their stature and experience in the party and Parliament.

Gujarat Bhavan, Keshav Kunj, the RSS local headquarters in Delhi, and BJP President Rajnath Singh's residence were hubs of consultations ahead of government formation in which allies are also expected to be included.

Senior leaders including Sushma Swaraj, Venkaiah Naidu, Kalraj Mishra and Gopinath Munde yesterday met the RSS' second-in-command Bhaiyyaji Joshi notwithstanding statements by RSS leaders that they have no role in government formation.

Senior party leaders Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah were also present during the meeting.

The discussions gained momentum as the Election Commission handed over the list of newly-elected MPs to President Pranab Mukherjee.