State BJP wants Munde to assume national responsibility: Gadkari

Mumbai, Nov 24 (UNI) Maharashtra BJP President Nitin Gadkari, who was re-elected for a second term today, said it is the wish of his party leaders from the state that former Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde should take up responsibility at the national level.

Talking to reporters, Mr Gadkari said he himself would call upon BJP President Rajnath Singh and convey the feelings of the state party leadership.

The elevation of Mr Munde to national-level politics has been suggested ever since the assassination of his brother-in-law and then BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan.

Meanwhile, Mr Gadkari, who had succeeded in convincing the Shiv Sena to allow the BJP to contest the Chimur assembly bye-election slated for December 4, said he had held a four-hour meeting with Sena executive President Uddhav Thackeray yesterday.

''All misunderstandings between the two parties were sorted out during yesterday's meeting and we have decided to strengthen the alliance further,'' Mr Gadkari said, adding that it was also decided to contest the impending Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation elections in alliance.

Mr Gadkari was today re-elected as state party President unopposed for the second term. A 48-member national council was also elected on the occasion and includes Mr Gopinath Munde, MPs Ved Prakash Goyal and Bal Apte, and Mr Prakash Javadekar.

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