Elections 2014: Rajnath Singh positions himself at number 2 if BJP voted to power

New Delhi: With BJP chief Rajnath Singh’s decision to stay out of government and control the organisation, he has clearly made himself the key man after the party’s PM nominee, Narendra Modi, in the lotus brigade. Though the BJP chief said that he was against creating a second “power centre”, his move to remain in charge of the party automatically puts him on an equal footing with the prime minister in the event of the BJP-NDA coming to power.

A section of the BJP feels that Mr Singh is opting out as he knows Mr Modi’s style of functioning in government well. “Mr Singh will have greater freedom as party president and will also continue to have better links with top RSS functionaries if he chooses not join the government,” a BJP leader said.

Given the fact that he is considered to be the “blue-eyed boy” of the RSS, sources also say that as BJP chief, he will have greater freedom both at the organisational level and also in relation with states where the party is in power. Of late, Mr Singh is seen positioning himself to be acceptable to all.

“Given the fact that we will have our government at the Centre, the RSS and the party would like to have a softer face at the helm of the organisation. He fits the best among the leaders as he is emerging as the BJP’s most secular face after Atal Behari Vajpayee,” a close associate of Mr Singh said.

Another section in the party believes that in the BJP there has always been a struggle for power and leaders often position and reposition themselves according to the situation. “Mr Singh’s move is just a part of his strategy. Whether he succeeds will be seen at the time of the formation of government, as the situation may change at that time,” a party leader said.