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POLL: Has BJP shot itself in foot, or scripted triumph?
The 61-year-old senior party leader from Uttar Pradesh takes the baton back from Nitin Gadkari whom he handed over the post in 2009.
Singh, who emerged as the consensus candidate last night after Gadkari dramatically opted out of the race for a second term, was the only candidate to file the nominations and was declared elected unopposed.
Gadkari was among the first ones to wish the new party president soon after the announcement by Election officer Thawar Chand Gehlot in the presence of top party leaders including L K Advani, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Venkaiah Naidu.
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BJP changes script at last moment
Gadkari, whose candidature was being pushed strongly by RSS, suddenly quit the race in the midst of allegations of impropriety by his company Purti Group.
After taking over, Rajnath Singh said, “I accept this not as a post, but as a responsibility” and said he would take the battle to a decisive end by bringing BJP to power.
He said he was taking over in not very conducive conditions in the wake of allegations levelled against the outgoing chief Nitin Gadkari.
Singh said though the party wanted Gadkari to continue as party president for a second term, but he took a moral high by deciding not to contest for a second term till his name was cleared of all charges.
The new chief exuded confidence of steering the party in the forthcoming Assembly elections in various states later this year and expressed the hope to see formation of an NDA regime led by BJP in the next general elections.
“I firmly believe that the NDA will form the government in 2014,” said Singh, adding that only BJP can tackle the country's problems and people expected it to rid the country of its troubles.
Congratulating Gadkari for frustrating the party's political opponents, BJP veteran L K Advani said, “Rajnath Singh's biggest responsibility will be to ensure that there is no compromise with any immoral act in BJP.”
He said Singh has power to bring people together and hoped the party will resolve to win lost ground in Uttar Pradesh, from where he hails.
Advani said Singh has focussed on agricultural issues and farmers and exuded confidence that he will take the party forward on these principles.
He also said the party was considered an urban party, but the results have proved otherwise. “For years we have never got success in urban areas as we have won in rural areas,” he said, citing the example of Madhya Pradesh which has seen the highest growth in agriculture sector.
Rajnath Singh earlier condemned Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's Hindu terror remarks, which he termed as “irresponsible” and said it indicated the party in power was not serious about its fight against terrorism.
The new BJP chief charged Congress with trying to divide the nation on communal lines and said it did only vote-bank politics.
Noting that the circumstances in which he took over to lead the party were not “conducive”, he said BJP will stand behind Gadkari in his fight to clear his name of all charges.
The new BJP chief said the country was going through troubled times and blamed the Congress for it, as it had ruled the nation for a maximum period, even as he charged the ruling party with being responsible for corruption and terrorism.
He said only the BJP can tackle the country's problems and rid the nation of its troubles and people were looking up to it for this.
In his address, Gadkari said people believe that if any party can change the future of the country, it is the BJP and hoped Rajnath Singh will take everyone together and his leadership can lead us to victory in 2014.
On his second term, he said, there has been a political conspiracy to malign him on issues he was not connected with.
Chief Ministers Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Rajnath Singh.
Narendra Modi congratulates Rajnath
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today welcomed the certain elevation of Rajnath Singh as BJP president, saying he has always been associated with farmers which would benefit the party.
"I called up Shri Rajnath Singh ji and congratulated him. He brings with him vast experience of both organisation and administration," Modi tweeted on social networking site twitter.
"Rajnath Singhji served as Agriculture Minister in Atalji's Govt. He has always been associated with the farmers. BJP will gain from this," he said in a second tweet.
The Equations have seen dramatic change for the Election of National President B.J.P. . With the Unanimous Elected National President Mr Rajnath Singh is in and Nitin Gadkari is out from the race of President of B.J.P. . Mr Rajnath Singh is a experienced having positive Eye Que , visionary Approach towards the Allies Partner's and Cadre . The major challenges for Rajnath Singh will be to achieve the Vision 2014 back to Power B.J.P. and its Allies ( N.D.A. ) .
Rajnathsingh ! why again a man from north ? is BJP trying to confine itself to north ?. It should spread it's leaves and after west ie Maharashtra, give chance to some one from south preferably from Karnataka.
Mr Gadkari's exit is Advani's victory via Kejriwal! but rajnath is not acceptance in mass.
With the exit of Gadkari the BJP is free from the yoke of charges against him.Even otherwise because of his immature handling of the affairs of the party he did not inspire confidence. Good riddance and time to look forward for the party.
The BJP party itself is not fit to be here in India to build a future India. By the same goes to most of the political parties. But BJP has shown it is a leader in insulting the country.
this is the party with a difference, none of whose presidents are opposed. in this so called democratic party, every president is elected unopposed. while some are ranting that BJP showed its commitment to honesty, let me ask them how come , gadkari, exposed by kejriwal months back , was still the bjp party president and had been almost finalised for a 2nd term. there is no honesty or cleansing by the thuggish BJP here, just internal fighting which led to rajnath coming up. yashwant sinha took his jharkhand revenge. and jethmalani , for his removal. honesty and BJP, what a joke!!!!
very bad choice
The news of Mr Gadkari's exit can only be described as "Better Late than Never". Whether this belated exit is good enough for BJP to project itself as a party against corruption, time (2014) alone will tell, since the party had already missed the bus by not sacking and persisting with Mr Yeddy far too long. This, however, does not mean that congress has become dear to the people, who are fed up with its scams after scams and dynastic characteristics. The setting is ideal for Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party, which should not be underestimated. Any party is good enough to govern India and dance to the tunes of US, the only need is for it to be free from corruption.
Now BJP emerged as a strong opposition party who can address corruption issues, and it will strengthen Indian nationalism and democracy. Definitely, the credit goes to Mr. Aravind Kejriwal also, and at last he finds some results.
mr kejriwal - will he get no acknowledgement from anyone in the media for what has happened? why is he so blanked out??? strange and very disconcerting....
Rajnath Singh is a eminent intellictual having ability to act as team leader.Shri Gadkari has business connections as he become a victim due to malpractises of his partners both in family and friends.So now the CBI is continuing the enquiry to catch his evil deeds.So finally he has no alternative except to resign from contest of President of BJP.Now the party has succeeded in overcoming the crisis and got a leader so mature enough to lead the Party.
Good choice
Mr Gadkari's exit should have come sooner. He would have been a liability anyway.RSS either should merge with BJP or refrain from politics. It can't aim to ride both the horses. as for Mr Gadkari's exit , it is good riddance. however forceful learned Auditor Mr Guru Murthy may try to defend the indefensible , Mr Gadkari will be known only for his lack lustre tenure and his foot in the mouth remarks. No tears will be shed for his exit. as it is Congress has levied serious malafide charge against BJP and RSS. The response from BJP and RSS lacked fire power and certainly not in equal measure. Congress a past master in manipulation is busy diverting attention of the Public to suit its own purpose. Congress offered many chances to BJP to earn goodwill of the Public. Unfortunately they were all squandered by BJP under Mr Gadkari's dispensation.
