Nitin Gadkari takes over as new BJP chief, Rajnath steps down

The BJP's parliamentary board which formally decided on Gadkari's elevation also expressed its gratitude to the leadership provided by outgoing president Rajnath Singh.

Soon after the parliamentary board meeting this afternoon, Singh announced that Gadkari had been appointed the new BJP chief.

Singh gave his place on the podium to Gadkari who was until now the chief of the Maharashtra BJP.

Singh said that there was a consensus in the parliamentary board on Gadkari's elevation and he had also spoken to party chief ministers and state unit chiefs. "They said Gadkari was the best choice".

Indirectly attacking the Congress, Singh said the BJP was not a family driven party and people from ordinary families can reach the top. "I am from a farmer's family. Gadkariji is also from a ordinary family in Nagpur," he said and lauded Gadkari as an "able, capable and skilled political activist".

Gadkari greeted leaders on the dias - L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley before making his first remarks as the new president.

"I will take everyone along and work for the party's philosophy of nationalism," he said.

Gadkari said he was a "junior" and sought guidance and cooperation from senior leaders.

The new BJP president said he had begun his career by pasting party posters and had now been given the post once held by party veterans Atal Behari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani.

"The chair they held has become so pure by their association that it will provide me guidance," he said, adding, "I want to assure my seniors that I will not do anything that brings a bad name to the party. I will work with honesty."

Terming his new role as "a big responsibilty," Gadkari also gave an inkling of his style of work. He said that as public works minister in Maharashtra he used to tell officials that they could accomplish difficult jobs through their willpower. "If there is a will, there is a way. If there is no will, then there are surveys, seminars, committees," he said.

The new BJP chief also made a mention of party workers saying that they possessed enormous determination.

Advani in his remarks praised Gadkari's work as a minister in Maharashtra and his role in the uplift of Nagpur.

He indicated that Gadkari had been selected after due deliberation. "It's a thought out decision," Advani said.

He said that the new president had the blessings of all office-bearers of the parliamentary board.

BJP workers danced to the beat of drums and burst crackers to celebrate the appointment of the new president.

In a resolution, the parliamentary board expressed its appreciation and gratitude to Rajnath Singh for the leadership provided by him during his tenure as president.

"Rajnath Singh led the party during a very challenging period. He devoted himself to the ideological and organisational causes of the party. The BJP parliamentary board wishes him the very best in future and is confident that his services will be fully available to the party," the resolution said.

Gadkari enjoys the backing of the BJP's ideological parent Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and his taking over is seen as the strengthening of RSS' hold over the BJP.

The front-ranking leadership of the party is now below 60 years of age.

The leadership change in the BJP comes eight months after the party's debacle in the general elections in May.

Source: IANS