New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari appears set to
become the next BJP President replacing Rajnath Singh in what
is being projected as a generational change for the main
opposition party.
52-year-old Gadkari`s name has been zeroed-in on for the
top job to revive the organisation after it suffered its
second successive jolt in the Lok Sabha elections, party
sources said today.
"Gadkari`s name is final. He has been chosen by senior
leader L K Advani after consultations with his party
colleagues," a senior leader said.
Another indication of Gadkari`s likely elevation came
from reports from Mumbai which spoke of a race to occupy the
post of Maharashtra BJP chief, at present being held by
Gadkari who has made the party the main opposition in the
state, replacing Shiv Sena.
The talk of Gadkari heading the party at the national
level gained momentum after RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat made it
clear that no one among the leaders in Delhi would be
entrusted with the task. He specifically ruled out Arun
Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar.
Bhagwat is said to have named Gadkari and former Goa
Chief Minister Manohar Parikkar as the probable candidates for
the top post while the party is maintaining that the selection
has been made by Advani.
Parikkar appears to have spoilt his chances by his
alleged remark dubbing Advani as a "rancid pickle".
A formal election of the next president is expected by
the year-end with election officer Thawar Chand Gehlot issuing
the schedule after the organisational polls in the states.
Gadkari has been a member of the Maharashtra Legislative
Council for several years and his work as PWD Minister in the
Shiv Sena-BJP government had been appreciated for the number
of flyovers in Mumbai, the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and
beautification of Nagpur.
Gadkari hails from Nagpur, city that houses the RSS
headquarters, and has been a prominent leader from Vidarbha.
The BJP leader, who is also an entrepreneur, is close
to RSS which reportedly wanted an honest leader who has proved
his mettle and one who has the drive and the ability to take
everyone along.
Even before the Lok Sabha elections it was clear that
Rajnath would not get a second term in spite of his attempts.
He had taken over as party chief on December 31, 2005 in the
wake of resignation of Advani who was embroiled in the M A
Jinnah controversy.
While reports had it that Advani would quit as Leader
of Opposition soon after the new president takes over, the RSS
appears to be mainly interested in the organisational wing of
the BJP and not the legislative wing.
Gadkari`s chances were further bolstered as the party and
RSS are not in favour of disturbing BJP Chief Ministers. If
this criteria is followed it would leave out Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh
Chouhan and Chhattisgarh CM Raman Singh.
Bureau Report
