The B.C. NDP's president wanted the party to adopt a opposite strategy than leader Carole James on the efforts to recall B.C. Liberals, leaked documents reveal. (CBC)

Leaked B.C. NDP documents reveal plans to aggressively but secretly support former B.C. premier Bill Vander Zalm's effort to recall Liberals over the harmonized sales tax even though NDP Leader Carole James says the party should step back from recall.

The documents, originally leaked to A News in Victoria, are notes from NDP executive meetings held in July and September.

The Sept. 21 meeting notes quote party president Moe Sihota detailing how the New Democrats should take active individual roles in the coming recall campaigns even though James said she wanted the recall campaigns to be non-partisan.

"Carole is taking the view that recall should not be seen as a partisan issue; we should step back and not take a leadership role," said Sihota about James.

But he continued to explain how the proposed efforts to recall 18 vulnerable Liberals by Vander Zalm's anti-HST forces must involve active New Democrats "as individuals."

"Below the surface, though, it is a partisan effort," he said. "Our members can be as aggressive in campaigns, but can't say it is an NDP effort."

Vander Zalm has said he plans to start three recall campaigns in the New Year, but has not named the Liberals he is targeting for recall.

Liberals pounce on revelation

According to the notes, Sihota told the September meeting Vander Zalm's team wants to start in the Okanagan where the Conservative vote is strongest.

But Sihota said the NDP would like the recalls to start on Vancouver Island, Kamloops and the 100 Mile House area, where the chances of the NDP winning seats is high.

The B.C. Liberals issued a statement calling the NDP documents a "strategy of deceit."

"We now have proof that Carole James and the NDP were misleading the public when she said the NDP would not be involved in recall," said a statement attributed to Environment Minister Barry Penner.

The notes from the July 14 NDP executive meeting indicate the party was in deep financial trouble last summer, with Sihota saying the NDP is surviving on donations from deceased members.

"We can't rely on people passing away," said Sihota.