Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh said on Friday
(December 18) that no consultations were held with the Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the change made in partys top leadership.

New Delhi, Dec 19 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath
Singh said on Friday (December 18) that no consultations were held
with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) over the change made in
party's top leadership.

Earlier on Friday, senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani stepped down
from his post as the leader of opposition in Parliament making way for
57-year-old Sushma Swaraj to be elected to the post.

BJP leader Arun Jaitley has already been elected as the leader of the
opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

This could be considered as a big generation shift in the BJP that is
all determined to plan its strategies for the future. The BJP had
suffered a debacle in the last general elections.

"I want to state very categorically that there were no consultations
with the RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh). The decision has been
taken in the meeting that I had convened. Of course, definitely, this
is the internal decision of the party," Rajnath Singh told a news
conference in New Delhi.

82-year old Advani was elected as the Chairman of BJP Parliamentary
Party, a new post created by amending the parliamentary party
constitution.

Earlier, Sushma Swaraj was the deputy leader of the BJP in the Lok
Sabha.

Celebrations erupted at Sushma Swaraj's residence after her nomination
to the top post.

"I accept it with all humility the responsibility which Advani has
given to me, and I would try that I come up to his expectations,"
Swaraj said.

Maharashtra BJP chief Nitin Gadkari, considered a favourite of
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, may be
appointed as the new BJP President taking over the reigns from Rajnath
Singh.

ANI

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