JOIN USGadkari not to contest LS poll for 3 yrs
“I will not fight any Parlilamentary election during my three year tenure as National BJP president”, Gadkari said in Nagpur.
“I have already made clear that my agenda will be politics of development”, he said.
On future programmes, Gadkari said he would be addressing his first press conference on December 24 in Delhi and spell out the party policies.
Gadkari, presently a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said he would retain the same national executive position which was headed by his immediate predecessor Rajnath Singh. Earlier, Gadkari was accorded a grand welcome by workers and office bearers of BJP on his arrival for the first time after becoming the national party chief.
Gadkari said he was confident of performing the responsibilities entrusted to him and that he never dreamt he would occupy the same position held by party stalwarts Atal Behari Vajpayee and L K Advani. Gadkari also said he is “new to Delhi and national politics.”
In New Delhi, Gadkari called on Advani to seek his blessings and support during his tenure. Gadkari met Advani along with his family members. Former BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu also joined them during the breakfast meeting.
Later, talking to reporters, Gadkari said: “I am new to Delhi and national politics. But after getting the blessings of the senior leaders, I am confident of performing the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me. After meeting Advani, my confidence has increased.”
Gadkari on Saturday called on Vajpayee and other senior leaders Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh and Naidu. He could not meet Advani on Saturday as the latter had gone to Vrindavan after the party’s Parliamentary Board meeting.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh said there “is bound to be a crisis if the authority of the party chief is challenged. The line of command rests only in the hands of the party president which is Nitin Gadkari.
“It is true that if the authority of the party president is challenged, there is bound to be a crisis but this hasn’t happened in the BJP and I am confident that this won’t happen with Nitin Gadkari either.” Gadkari later arrived in Nagpur to a rousing welcome by BJP supporters.