'Shadow' standing panels to sharpen BJP MPs' skills

New Delhi, March 16 : In a move aimed at sharpening skills of its MPs taking part in deliberations of parliamentary panels, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has decided to form "shadow standing committees", comprising senior members and experts, to provide guidance on bills, policy matters and financial issues.

BJP leaders said that shadow standing committee was an attempt to use the "intellectual bank" of the party to sharpen skills of members taking part in the standing committees.

"It will improve performance of our MPs in standing committees and also in parliamentary debates. The MPs will also be told of the party line on various bills," a senior party leader said.

BJP leaders said that subject experts will be associated with the 24 shadow standing committees that the party intends to set up.