Unlike his predecessors, the new Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Gadkari sings a different tune. The occasion was the ongoing national executive meeting here.
On Wednesday night, with 5,000 party members in attendance, Mr. Gadkari belted out a melodious Manna Dey number, Zindagi kaisi hai paheli hai, kabhi toh hasaye kabhi ye rulaye from Anand, a hit film of the 1970s.
At the instance of senior leader L.K. Advani, the "sincere party worker" took the mike at a cultural evening near the Kusha Bhau Thakre Gram, and was greeted with claps by the gathering.
Inspired by Mr. Gadkari, Shivraj Chauhan, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and host of the conclave, along with some of his Ministers, quickly joined in.
Before Mr. Gadkari took the stage, Madhya Pradesh IT Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya — in-charge of preparations for the National Executive — sang the title soundtrack of Chaudhavi ka chand originally rendered by Mohammed Rafi.
Mr. Chauhan also sang the Manna Dey song Nadiya chale chale re dharaa.
