Consensus emerges on Gadkari's second term as BJP president

Senior party leader L K Advani has come around with the view that Gadkari, who is set to file his nomination, be given a second term as no consensus could be arrived at on any other candidates, party sources said today.

Till last week, there was an exercise between Advani's camp and Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) to arrive at a consensus candidate.

According to the sources, Advani, who had reservation about Gadkari getting a second term because of charges about dubious funding of Purti Group with which he was associated, had earlier suggested the name of Ravi Shankar Prasad for the post of party president.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj's name had also figured in the discussion, but she herself has not shown much keenness on occupying the post.

While Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's name was also doing the rounds, party leaders ruled out the possibility saying he does not figure in Advani's list of probables.

Modi himself is not interested in becoming party president though he could play a key role in the election management for BJP at the central level for the next Lok Sabha elections, they said.

RSS has been pitching for a second term for Gadkari with Sangh chief Mohan Bhagwat himself backing him. It feels Gadkari who took over soon after the BJP's second consecutive Lok Sabha poll defeat should lead the party in the next elections.

The task he had undertaken three years back is still yet to be completed, it felt. RC SGI SC

RAI