New Delhi:
Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Nitin Gadkari is almost certain to be made the next party president, RSS sources have said.
As per the sources, BJP president Rajnath Singh will step down as the chief before his term ends, and plans to assist the next chief to take charge.
Senior leader Lal Krishna Advani is also expected to step down after the new president takes over.
Meanwhile, Rajnath has also backed Sushma Swaraj as the next Leader of Opposition, added the sources.
The question of Gadkari becoming the next BJP chief has been doing the rounds for the last few days. In fact, the Maharashtra politician was in the national capital three days ago and significantly, he did not deny being tipped for the top post in the party.
He had said that he was ready for any assignment.
"I am a loyal soldier of the party but my political influence is limited within Maharashtra and not the rest of the country. I am no one to intervene or take decisions on their behalf at that level. Though the situation hasn't arisen but I will do whatever the party wants me to as I have in the past. I was never part of any race neither have I tried to participate in any race ever," Gadkari had said.
"I have always taken up any responsibility that the party has entrusted me with, starting from pasting posters when I began with ABVP," he added.
In another related development, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said a few days ago that BJP's central leaders Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar have been passed over for the post.
Gadkari's candidature as the Sangh's choice has been doing the rounds since September.
As per the sources, BJP president Rajnath Singh will step down as the chief before his term ends, and plans to assist the next chief to take charge.
Senior leader Lal Krishna Advani is also expected to step down after the new president takes over.
Meanwhile, Rajnath has also backed Sushma Swaraj as the next Leader of Opposition, added the sources.
The question of Gadkari becoming the next BJP chief has been doing the rounds for the last few days. In fact, the Maharashtra politician was in the national capital three days ago and significantly, he did not deny being tipped for the top post in the party.
He had said that he was ready for any assignment.
"I am a loyal soldier of the party but my political influence is limited within Maharashtra and not the rest of the country. I am no one to intervene or take decisions on their behalf at that level. Though the situation hasn't arisen but I will do whatever the party wants me to as I have in the past. I was never part of any race neither have I tried to participate in any race ever," Gadkari had said.
"I have always taken up any responsibility that the party has entrusted me with, starting from pasting posters when I began with ABVP," he added.
In another related development, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said a few days ago that BJP's central leaders Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu and Ananth Kumar have been passed over for the post.
Gadkari's candidature as the Sangh's choice has been doing the rounds since September.
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