Rajnath to fight for farmers' right

Rajnath Singh took over as BJP president today, with a warning from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee about the job being a crown of thorns and that "advice from Advaniji (L K Advani) would be forthcoming."

The advice hinted at not just the difficulties of heading the 25-year-old party, but also the fact that the BJP' top organisation was infested with Advani loyalists.

But Singh appeared confident as he took over, trying to chart a different course for himself and the party by emphasising that he was a farmer's son and he would be agitating for the rights of farmers to low-cost loans and income insurance schemes. "We will be agitating for the Indian farmer who is killing himself out of despair," he said.

This, however, could turn out to be the only new course he could chart for now, since sources confirm that his new team would see many of the old faces like Pramod Mahajan, Arun Jaitley, and Sushma Swaraj.

Venkaiah Naidu has all but opted out of serving Rajnath Singh complete his own term as party president.

Present vice-president and Sangh man Bal Apte would replace the unfortunate Sanjay Joshi as organisational general secertary. His post could be upgraded to organisational vice-president if he so desired, say sources.

Significantly, a pranth sanghathan mantri or the RSS man in any state unit of the BJP could be promoted to the Centre, signalling that big brother RSS was keeping a close eye on developments in the party. The RSS is keen that Rajnath Singh tread a different path than L K Advani. However, it is hindered by the fact that there is a dearth of organisational talent outside of those leaders pushed forward by Advani.

"For instance, if you want to bring a backward class leader with Uma Bharti's Hindutva appeal from Uttar Pradesh the choice would be only Vinay Katiyar, who is not the best choice for the job," said a source.

Rajnath Singh's rival in Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh is likely to be sent as head of the BJP state unit in Lucknow. "He is too senior to serve under Rajnath Singh," said a source.

One thing the Sangh would be able to get from Rajnath Singh was the very strong line it craves on corruption and an attempt to recover lost moral high ground.

"All six MPs accused in the cash-for-question scam will be expelled from the party," said a top source in the party. As a signal, Singh, in his first statement after taking over, said that "corruption in any form is going to be strictly dealt with."

Rajnath Singh's supporters say that he has signed on for a term of four years, the leftover term he is serving now and a fresh three-year term beginning in February 2007. When asked whether Advani is to be face of the BJP in the next general elections, Singh's remark was telling: "The elections are too far away as of now."