International BusinessGadkari replaces Rajnath as BJP chief
Nitin Gadkari today became president of the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), replacing Rajnath Singh. He is the first Maharashtrian to reach the party’s top post.
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This is one in a series of changes BJP has effected after its defeat in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year. Sushma Swaraj, 57, is the new Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, replacing L K Advani, who has become the chairman of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Arun Jaitley has become the leader of the party in the Rajya Sabha. His predecessor, Jaswant Singh, was expelled from the party.
Gadkari enjoys the backing of the party"s ideological parent, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). However, at a press conference, Singh contested that RSS, which has always described itself as a social and not political organisation, had anything to do with the change in BJP’s leadership.
The waves of change are likely to hit state leaderships, too, such as in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh may also see changes as Singh returns to his roots. Assembly elections in the state are due in 2011.
“I started off as a small activist of the party in my student days, putting up posters of the party, and this is a big responsibility for me. I want to assure my seniors that I will not do any work that will be against the party. I will be sitting on the chair but would need your help. You will have to cooperate with me,” Gadkari said. He shared the dais with Advani, Swaraj, Jaitley and Singh.