Rajnath will continue to steer the party: Gadkari

New Delhi, May 14: Amid reports that he is lobbying for a comeback as BJP chief, Nitin Gadkari today said there would be no change in the party's leadership.

Gadkari, who was removed as party chief after he faced allegations of irregularities by a business group floated by him, said Rajnath Singh will continue to steer the party even after government formation as he did ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

"No...this type of promise has never been given to me by anybody. I am not expecting that. My role whatever it may be it, will be decided by the party," Gadkari, who recently got a clean chit form the income tax department, said.

Making it clear that he had never asked for anything, the former BJP chief said that he has a strong conviction that politics is a instrument of socio-economic reforms.

"For that purpose my conviction is country first, party second party after that I consider myself," he said. He said that it was up to the party president and senior leaders to decide whichever role was right for him. Gadkari said that under the leadership of Rajnath Singh and Narendra Modi, the party will work to form a government and there was no question about change in leadership.

Asked if L K Advani would be offered the post of speaker, he said A B Vajpayee and Advani were the founders of the party. "They are the motivation and inspiration for all of us. Ultimately at the appropriate time, we will discuss the issue with them and it is up to the party to take a decision," he said.

Asked about alliances, he said the NDA will get a majority and the party's doors are open to parties which wants to join it. "The question is not of minority or majority. Whoever wants to join us we'll take them together. Those who are against despite their resistance (virodh)...whoever will support we'll take their support.

"We have a broad approach. Our party is not a father-son or a mother-son party. Ours is a democratic party and we sit, discuss and decide. We will decide under the leadership of our leaders. Today there is no confusion or aggression in the party," Gadkari said.

PTI