The Hindu : Front Page : Nitin Gadkari front runner for post of BJP president

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Friday, Nov 13, 2009
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Nitin Gadkari front runner for post of BJP president

Neena Vyas

Modi may be too hot for RSS and BJP leaders to handle

Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party hopes to more or less complete organisational elections at the mandal level by month-end. By mid-December, the process will move to the district level and then on to the State level, leading to the election of the new national president in January 2010, when Rajnath Singh’s tenure expires.

The search for a new party president also seems to be coming to an end. As of now, Maharastra State president Nitin Gadkari is among the top favourites. Mr. Gadkari, who arrived here on Thursday, was closeted with BJP general secretary (organisation) Ramlal, who is also the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s point man in the party.

Emerging from the meeting, Mr. Gadkari said he was a foot soldier and would take up whatever responsibility was given, but added he was not aware of any move to make him president. He said he had never been in any race for any job. He had come to the capital on a “private visit.”

Officially, it was stated a meeting between Mr. Gadkari and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had not been scheduled and Mr. Bhagwat would leave Delhi on Friday. However, privately BJP leaders did not rule out a meeting between the two, later in Nagpur.

It seems the other name that was seriously considered for the top job was Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Both RSS and BJP sources said Mr. Modi wanted a free hand in running the party. It was felt that he might be too hot for the RSS as well as other senior BJP leaders to handle.

Dislike for Modi

Moreover, after the Biju Janata Dal walked out of the National Democratic Alliance ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha poll, the BJP did not want to run the risk of its crucial ally in Bihar, the Janata Dal (United), also leaving the NDA. The JD(U) has repeatedly made known its dislike for Mr. Modi, making it clear to its partner that the Gujarat Chief Minister is “not welcome” in Bihar, not even for election campaigns.

Yet another factor is the ongoing investigation by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team into the 2002 Gujarat communal riot cases, including the role, if any, played by Mr. Modi. But above all, central party leaders are acutely aware that they will all be reduced to “zeroes” if Mr. Modi becomes president. Some other BJP Chief Ministers like Shivraj Singh Chauhan apparently let it be known they preferred to remain in their States.

Yet another factor is that the three-year tenure of the next president will end more than a year ahead of the next Lok Sabha battle. Some leaders, including Mr. Modi, may be planning ahead for the top slot in 2012-13.

“By a process of elimination, Mr. Gadkari has become the front runner, as of now,” a party functionary said, adding the former Goa Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar, never a too-serious contender, went out of the reckoning after his remarks virtually comparing Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani to “rancid pickle.”

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