11-16-2009, 06:38 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Gadkari appears set to become next BJP president</b>
pioneer.com
PTI | New Delhi
Nitin Gadkari appears set to become the next BJP president replacing Rajnath Singh in what is being projected as a generational change for the main opposition party.
<b>52-year-old Gadkari's name has been zeroed-in on for the top job </b>to revive the organisation after it suffered its second successive jolt in the Lok Sabha elections, party sources said on Sunday.
"Gadkari's name is final. He has been chosen by senior leader LK Advani after consultations with his party colleagues," a senior leader said.
Another indication of Gadkari's likely elevation came from reports from Mumbai which spoke of a race to occupy the post of Maharashtra BJP chief, at present being held by Gadkari who has made the party the main opposition in the State, replacing Shiv Sena.
The talk of Gadkari heading the party at the national level gained momentum after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made it clear that no one among the leaders in Delhi would be entrusted with the task. He specifically ruled out Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar.
Bhagwat is said to have named Gadkari and former Goa chief minister Manohar Parikkar as the probable candidates for the top post while the party is maintaining that the selection has been made by Advani.
Parikkar appears to have spoilt his chances by his alleged remark dubbing Advani as a "rancid pickle".
A formal election of the next president is expected by the year-end with election officer Thawar Chand Gehlot issuing the schedule after the organisational polls in the States.
<b>Gadkari has been a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council for several years and his work as PWD Minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP Government had been appreciated for the number of flyovers in Mumbai, the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and beautification of Nagpur.
Gadkari hails from Nagpur, city that houses the RSS headquarters, and has been a prominent leader from Vidarbha.
The BJP leader, who is also an entrepreneur, is close to RSS which reportedly wanted an honest leader who has proved his mettle and one who has the drive and the ability to take everyone along. </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
pioneer.com
PTI | New Delhi
Nitin Gadkari appears set to become the next BJP president replacing Rajnath Singh in what is being projected as a generational change for the main opposition party.
<b>52-year-old Gadkari's name has been zeroed-in on for the top job </b>to revive the organisation after it suffered its second successive jolt in the Lok Sabha elections, party sources said on Sunday.
"Gadkari's name is final. He has been chosen by senior leader LK Advani after consultations with his party colleagues," a senior leader said.
Another indication of Gadkari's likely elevation came from reports from Mumbai which spoke of a race to occupy the post of Maharashtra BJP chief, at present being held by Gadkari who has made the party the main opposition in the State, replacing Shiv Sena.
The talk of Gadkari heading the party at the national level gained momentum after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat made it clear that no one among the leaders in Delhi would be entrusted with the task. He specifically ruled out Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar.
Bhagwat is said to have named Gadkari and former Goa chief minister Manohar Parikkar as the probable candidates for the top post while the party is maintaining that the selection has been made by Advani.
Parikkar appears to have spoilt his chances by his alleged remark dubbing Advani as a "rancid pickle".
A formal election of the next president is expected by the year-end with election officer Thawar Chand Gehlot issuing the schedule after the organisational polls in the States.
<b>Gadkari has been a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council for several years and his work as PWD Minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP Government had been appreciated for the number of flyovers in Mumbai, the Pune-Mumbai Expressway and beautification of Nagpur.
Gadkari hails from Nagpur, city that houses the RSS headquarters, and has been a prominent leader from Vidarbha.
The BJP leader, who is also an entrepreneur, is close to RSS which reportedly wanted an honest leader who has proved his mettle and one who has the drive and the ability to take everyone along. </b>
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->