Mumbai, November 18: The elevation of nondescript Nagpur politician Nitin Gadkari as the BJP’s national president may have come as a surprise to many. But those involved in his selection are clear about their goals.
Insiders said the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, ideological parent of the BJP, wants to rebuild it as a cadre-based party in which no leader is larger than the organisation. They suggested that the RSS is willing to wait for up to a decade before the BJP is ready to make a pitch for power at the Centre again.
A source in the party said, “Gadkari is someone who will not cross his laxman rekha to attain his own goals, something that has been the bane of the BJP. He gives the RSS the confidence that it can rule the BJP.”
Gadkari may not be a mass leader, but he made his mark as an able administrator when the Shiv Sena-BJP alliance ruled Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. As public works minister, he oversaw construction of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and 45 flyovers in Mumbai. The plan for the Bandra-Worli Sea Link was also drawn up under his watch.
According to insiders, he was chosen to lead the party despite the presence of more able GenNext leaders because the RSS wants to end the political backbiting that was rife with individuals engaging in self-promotion.
“Frankly, we were taken by surprise when Gadkari’s name was brought in for discussion.” a senior leader of the BJP, who was himself in the race for president, told DNA. “There is a strong message in this for us. The epicentre of right-wing politics will remain in Nagpur, replacing the Delhi durbar style of politics that led to personality clashes in the party.”
–Agencies–