Change in BJP leadership gives hope to Gujarat unit

The change of guard at the national level in the Bhartiya Janata Party has raised new hopes in the state unit that the new leadership will take the party to the top position. The state unit of the BJP is not surprised with the latest developments at the national level as it was expected ever since the debacle of the party in the parliamentary polls.

The party has unanimously selected Sushma Swaraj as the leader of opposition in the parliament in place of Advani while Nitin Gadkari, a stalwart leader of Maharashtra, replaced Rajnath Singh as the national president. Both names were being bandied about in party circle since the Rastriya Sewak Sangh (RSS) interfered in the matter. Advani will now head the parliamentary board.

Party workers in the state are now expecting positive developments in the party. "We want the party back in power at the Centre," said a party worker. "We did not have any doubt about the leadership of Advani but the time has changed now. We have to emerge as a strong party which can take on the hype of the Congress," the worker said. "Swaraj is a good and accepted leader as she was earlier deputy leader of the opposition," the leader said.

The BJP needs total revival after its lukewarm results in the parliamentary elections. The row of leaders like Jashwant Singh and other has also depleted the image of the party as well as spread depression in the party ranks.