Rajnath Singh unanimously elected as leader of legislature party

LUCKNOW, OCT 25: Union Surface Transport Minister Rajnath Singh was today unanimously elected as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (B...

LUCKNOW, OCT 25: Union Surface Transport Minister Rajnath Singh was today unanimously elected as leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Legislature Party. Outgoing Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta proposed his name and state party president Kalraj Mishra seconded it, followed by Harishchandra Shrivastava, Om Prakash Singh, Lalji Tandon, Hukum Singh, Premlata Katiyar, Ramapati Shastri, Nepal Singh and Seema Rizvi.

Legislators expressed their support by raising their hands and chanting Har Har Mahadeo. The Thakur community, which is a large support bank of Rajnath Singh, shouted slogans over his election. Also present on the occasion were senior party leaders Sanghpriya Gautam, Sunil Shastri and Sanjay Singh.

Ironically, among those who seconded the proposal were Tandon, who was a contender for the post, and Om Prakash Singh who had continuously opposed the high command’s move to appoint Rajnath Singh as Chief Minister. While supporting the proposal today, both expressed confidence in Rajnath Singh’s ability to improve the party and offered their whole support.

Later, Rajnath Singh, alongwith party’s high command observer Narendra Modi and senior leaders, went to Raj Bhawan to inform Governor Suraj Bhan about the election. The swearing-in is scheduled for October 28. Chief Minister Ram Prakash Gupta submitted his resignation to the Governor who advised him to continue till Rajnath Singh was sworn in.

This time’s legislature party meeting was different as it was open for media persons as well. In his speech while declaring Rajnath Singh elected, Narendra Modi spouted praise for Ram Prakash Gupta along with Rajnath Singh. “It is very difficult to find a person like Gupta who offered to quit,”Modi said. He explained that a month ago, Gupta had requested Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to relieve him from the post.

Referring to Rajnath Singh as a gift for the people of the state, Modi said he had pinned his hopes on Singh who had many challenges ahead. Modi said Singh would have to refurbish the image of the party by improving governance which would make all the difference to the party’s position in the local bodies elections next month and the Assembly elections next year. In all this, Modi added, Singh had to consider not only his party men but allied parties, as well.

Singh in turn thanked legislators for electing him as their leader. He was sure his party would get an absolute majority in the next Assembly elections and form the government, would require the full support of party leaders and workers, he said.

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Singh also said Gupta had told him of his desire to quit about six months ago and had advised him to take over. Recounting what Gupta had said, he said, “At this juncture a person like you can deliver the goods.” Singh praised Gupta’s experience in governance and hoped the outgoing Chief Minister would continue to advise him.