Nitin Gadkari likely to be next BJP president

New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari, president of the Maharashtra unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is most likely to become the next national president of the party, succeeding Rajnath Singh by the end of 2009.

Photo: Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari, who enjoys the support of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), was in New Delhi the other day, fuelling speculations that he will be chosen to head the BJP at the national level.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Gadkari said that no decision has been taken yet. However, he did not deny that he is being tipped for the BJP’s top job and also said that he is “ready for any assignment.”

Photo: Nitin Gadkari with Rajnath Singh, current BJP president and Gopinath Munde

Nitin Gadkari said he had not met RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, who also was in New Delhi, adding that he has always taken up any responsibility that the party has given him, but he was never a part of any race for any post.

Political observers see Gadkari’s presence at the BJP’s central office in New Delhi as an obvious indication that his election as the national president of the BJP could be no more than a formality. If this come to pass, the BJP’s national-level leaders like M Venkaiah Naidu, Arun Jaitley, Ananth Kumar and Sushma Swaraj have been ignored for the post.

The candidature of Nitin Gadkari as the choice of the RSS for the post of the BJP chief has been doing the rounds since September 2009.

If Gadkari does become the BJP president, the party’s connection with Nagpur, the headquarters of the RSS, will be strengthened in many ways, according to observers.

Since Gadkari is close to the RSS, his possible elevation to the top party post is construed by many as an attempt by the RSS to get involved in the affairs of the  BJP.

The RSS apparently holds Gadkari in high esteem since he is considered as a “development-oriented” leader and also for his “clean image” after renowned social worker Anna Hazare had to withdraw a case of corruption against Gadkari as the charges could not be proved.

Nitin Gadkari had attracted attention while he was the Mayor of Nagpur and also as Maharashtra’s Minister for Public Works in the Shiv Sena-BJP government.

He has been credited with the development of Nagpur and Mumbai while he was the Mayor of Nagpur and a Minister in Maharashtra.