CHENNAI: With Amit Shah taking over as the national BJP president, the party’s central leadership is soon expected to announce its Tamil Nadu unit chief. Speculation is rife that both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh are keen on the appointment of State vice-president H Raja to the post.
Hectic lobbying for the post began soon after State BJP president Pon Radhakrishnan became a minister of State in the Modi cabinet after bagging the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat.
While the names of several senior leaders like L Ganesan, H Raja, C P Radhakrishnan, Mohanrajulu and Vanathi Srinivasan did the rounds, the choice finally narrowed down to Raja. There is also speculation that senior leader Tamilisai Soundarajan could be the dark horse and pip him to the post.
However, the inordinate delay in the appointment of a new State chief has raised questions on whether there is a serious tussle within the State unit on the issue. At a recent State and district office-bearers meeting, presided over by BJP general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in Tamil Nadu P Muralidhar Rao, many of them reportedly supported State organising secretary Mohanrajulu’s candidature. “It does not come as a surprise, as they are his appointees,” a senior saffron activist pointed out.
Of concern to the central leadership could be the fact that Raja and Mohanrajulu do not see eye-to-eye on many issues and the leadership wishes to resolve the issue amicably.
“That could be the reason for the delay,” the activist said. “Even if a new president takes over, the organising secretary can continue because he is appointed and not elected,” he pointed out.
At present, sources say, Raja enjoys a clear edge over others, with Rajnath Singh and Modi, who wants the Tamil Nadu unit to be strengthened, favourably inclined towards him.
In fact, if a source is to be believed, Modi has given the nod for Raja’s appointment. But if for some reasons the central leadership rejects his candidature, then Tamilisai Soundararajan could be next option, the activist said.
The suspense will continue till the announcement, which is expected to come anytime.