I am not inclined to shift to Centre: Munde

Mumbai, June 22 (UNI) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Gopinath Munde today said he was not keen on taking over responsibilities at the Centre, but if the party asks him to take any task, he would not refrain from discharging it.

''I was always interested in the state politics, but if the party gives me any responsibility at the Centre, I am ready to take over the same,'' said Mr Munde, a former BJP national vice-president.

''In fact, I would like to continue functioning in the Maharashtra politics,'' he added.

Dispelling all rumours that he would be the candidate for the post of the general secretary in the BJP, which was once occupied by his brother-in-law late Pramod Mahajan, he clarified that the party's internal elections are due in October-November this year, adding that the new appointments would be made only after the elections.

He admitted that during speculations in the media about who would replace Mahajan, who died on May 3 after he was shot at by his younger brother on April 22, his name cropped up.

Mr Munde, who is currently leader of the BJP legislature party in the state legislative assembly, said if he takes over any responsibility at the Centre, party MLA from Jalgaon Eknath Khadse, will step in his shoes.

He said there was no dearth of leadership in the BJP as the Maharashtra BJP president Nitin Gadkari and Leader of the Opposition Pandurang Phundkar were also capable leaders.

Asked whether Rahul Mahajan, the son of Pramod Mahajan, would join politics, Mr Munde said Rahul had himself said that till he would not take up any responsibility unless his name was cleared from the drug abuse case.

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