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"I just said there should be a contest if Mr Gadkari is contesting. If I have to engage in a token fight, I may decide," Mahesh told reporters here today.
He, however, clarified that he has not "given a thought" to the matter as yet.
Mahesh, who had resigned from BJP national executive in November last year to put pressure on Gadkari to step down from his post in the wake of allegations of financial impropriety, was not very straightforward about his intention to contest.
"I don't know from where these rumours (that he will contest against Gadkari) are originating. I am not among the claimants (to BJP chief's post)," he said.
When repeatedly questioned by reporters outside the Bombay High Court, Mahesh, son of BJP veteran Ram Jethmalani, whose suspension was recently revoked by the party after a truce with Gadkari, said he would make known his decision later in
the day.
Asked whether he had spoken to any senior BJP leaders about contesting for the party's top job, the Oxford-educated lawyer said, "Who will I talk to? I am a small person, only an ordinary worker."
Mahesh and his father Ram Jethmalani, also a party MP, were both vocal in demanding the resignation of Gadkari as BJP president in the wake of reported irregularities in the Purti Group.
With RSS backing Gadkari to the hilt, a consensus had appeared to have emerged yesterday on a second term for him.
Senior party leader L K Advani, who had reservations about a fresh term for Gadkari, had reportedly agreed to it as a consensus on any other candidate proved elusive.
According to the notification for BJP's presidential election issued yesterday, nomination papers for the top post will be filed on January 23 from 10 am to 11.30 am. Scrutiny will be held from 11.30 am to 12 noon.
A date for election will be declared, if required, after the withdrawal of nomination between 12 to 12.30 pm. In the absence of any contest, the elected candidate will be declared at 12.30 pm the same day.
BJP is past-master in the art of shooting oneself in the foot. The present decision to re-elect Nitin Gadkari, the rotund, bumbling, state level political no-body as its national president for the second time is a case in point. Worst they can do is to declare Narendra Modi as its Prime Ministerial candidate before the elections. The two events together will ensure that the BJP sits in the opposition as the largest party in the house unable to find partners to form an alliance. Keep it up BJP
BJP will lose this golden opportunity of coming into POWER along with NDA partners if Mr.Gadhkari is given 2nd term as President. Mr.Gadhkari may be a good person but prior to getting his name cleared from alleged corruption charges, he should not not be made president of BJP and it would be ideal if he himself voluntarily refuses to accept the post which eventually enhance his reputation. Anyway, if Mr.Gadhkari is made president, BJP will lose its millions of sympathisers and cannot expose congress's corrpt acts when its own president is allegedly involved. By making Gadhkari BJP prsidemt for 2nd term, there will be ZERO gain but 100% loss for sure.
For God's sake don't spoil your chances by making this man again the president of BJP. Corruption and nationalism are the only matters in which BJP can address properly.
Nitin Gadkari is unfit for BJP President.There are a lot of leaders in BJP to hold this post like Shushma Sawraj,Arun Jetley,Anant Kumar,Uma Bharti,Narender Modi,Shanta Kumar Etc.
Earlier Modi was looking after party affairs in Delhi for a long time.Get him in and project him as PM candidate. Congress have opened their cards.Whatever but take away Gadakeri and deposit him with RSS camp if want to come to Power.Jain has given a good list of potential presidents.
