Rajnath son elevation divides BJP

Pankaj Singh promoted as UP unit secretary

The BJP central leadership has firmly refused to revoke its decision to appoint Pankaj Singh, son of former state Chief Minister Rajnath Singh, as general secretary of the party’s Uttar Pradesh unit.

The sudden elevation of Pankaj Singh to the key post has triggered a revolt among the senior office-bearers of the party’s state unit.

Defending the decision, party president Nitin Gadkari described Pankaj Singh as “competent”, and made it clear that he would continue in his post. Three party secretaries have resigned in protest against Singh’s promotion.They said “merit and seniority” had not been taken into account while promoting Singh.

The son of the former chief minister had held the post of state secretary before he wad promoted to the post of the seventh general secretary of BJP’s UP unit – the post being created over and above the six that the party’s constitution permits.

BJP National spokesman Ravishankar Prasad said on Monday that Rajnath Singh had displayed “a high level of propriety” by denying a party ticket to his son in the forthcoming elections. “It is the party that decides what is best for it,” he said.

Several party leaders in UP are also miffed with Gadkari’s decision to project former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti as the main campaigner for the party. Despite the dissensions cropping up in the state, Gadkari appears to be intent on implementing his poll strategy in the state.

The party president had on Sunday kicked off another controversy on by stating in a media interview that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was “capable of being Prime Minister and party president”.

“The BJP is not a family-owned concern. The party will decide the issue,” the BJP spokesman said, suggesting that not much should be read into Gadkari’s comment.