Nagpur News:
It came as a shock for many in Nagpur, especially the supporters of Nitin Gadkari, when he had to tender his resignation from the BJP’s top post despite being the foremost candidate to serve it for the second time. RSS senior leader MG Vaidya termed the twist as the bifurcation of thoughts among party cadres upon deciding the candidate for the BJP’s national president.
Appreciating the decision by Gadkari to resign Vaidya indicated that BJP’s senior leaders Yashwant Sinha and Ram Jethmalani has been demanding his resignation for last one and half month. “We can say that it’s a victory of Yashwant and Jethmalani”, he added.
Upon the reports of RSS pressing for Gadkari’s second term, Vaidya clarified that Sangh only extends suggestions to BJP and to follow it or not is party’s call. Sangh never imposes a whip.
BJP State Unit Chief Sudhir Mungantiwar said that though Gadkari has resigned from the post but he would continue to lead the party’s bandwagon. He said that it was Gadkari’s choice to get Rajnath to lead the position as he did not want the Congress to play politics out of the allegations leveled against him. Gadkari wanted to play active role for now and assured his full support to Rajnath in pulling the poll strategy to perfection.
BJP MLA Devendra Fadnavis indicated foul play regarding the reports of raids conducted on certain companies which have nothing to do with Gadkari’s Purti Group. He said that the selective leakage was done to hamper the party’s election. But Gadkari generously offered to resign till he come clean on the issue. Owing to the mixed views over Gadkari resuming the second term he himself resigned and recommended Rajnath Singh for the larger interest of the party, said Fadnavis, adding that soon Gadkari would come clean and everything would fall in line.
On the setback the Nagpur and Maharashtra received, Fadnavis said the decision is very unfortunate since it is already difficult for a person from Nagpur or Maharashtra to get a position at Delhi level. But he exuded confidence that this is just a transitionary phase and the things will be sorted out soon.
