New Delhi:
Elected unchallenged with the RSS firmly backing him, this is the man who has declared a new order in the BJP. A new, Gen Next team is the next step.
BJP president Nitin Gadkari is expected to put his new team in place on Tuesday. The big question - will some of those who clashed with his predecessor Rajnath Singh, now be rehabilitated?
As Gadkari sets about picking his general secretaries, secretaries and heads of mass organizations, the buzz is that despite stiff opposition, Varun Gandhi may head the BJP in Uttar Pradesh or take charge of the party's youth wing.
Though Varun's virulent hate speeches have many in the BJP chary of him, he has the RSS firmly behind him. The RSS believes Varun can be a counter to Rahul Gandhi.
The key posts of general secretaries will see lots of changes. The new team is expected to feature former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who had openly rebelled against Rajnath Singh.
Also, Manohar Parrikar, who less than six months ago had called L K Advani a rancid pickle.
Among others expected on Gadkari's energised, new team are former minister and party spokesman Ravishankar Prasad and the BJP's Muslim poster boy and former minister Shahnawaz Hussain.
Sources say in consultation with the RSS, Gadkari may give 30 per cent posts to new faces and drop leaders blamed for electoral failures. For many old timers, the good news is that not all of them are headed for the exit gate.
"It will be a blend of old and new. a balance between different kind of capabilities and regional representation," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said.
In race for the post of general secretary:- Anant Kumar - who was part of Advani camp in last team
- Vasundhra Raje - who will be rehabilitated
- Ravishankar Prasad - who could be a good speaker replacement for Arun Jaitley
- T C Gehlot, Ramlal - who were in the last team also
- J P Nadda - a new face
- Arjun Munda - ex-Jharkhand chief minister and will be a new face
- Dharmendra Pradhan - new face from Orissa
Key contenders for other posts:- Prakash Jawdekar, Yashwant Sinha, B C Khanduri and Harshvardhan - tipped to be vice presidents
- Anurag Thakur - son of Himachal CM Premkumar Dhumal and likely to be president of the Yuva Morcha
- Tarun Vijay likely to be made spokesperson
- Bollywood actor Anupam Kher's wife Kiron Kher also likely to get an important designation
- Smriti Irani, Saroj Pandey and Nirmala Sitaraman also likely to be inducted