‘Go serve the poor’

“Serve the people. Politics can come later.” This was the gist of new BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s message to his party’s leaders and workers at his press conference on Thursday — his first after taking over.

“Serve the people. Politics can come later.”

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This was the gist of new BJP president Nitin Gadkari’s message to his party’s leaders and workers at his press conference on Thursday — his first after taking over.

“We should all do something on the ground for the poor, the Dalits and the suffering farmers,” said Gadkari (52). Antodaya is giving priority to the last person in the queue. It should be our objective. I’d like every BJP member to be actively involved with vikas (development) and seva (service) in his or her area.”

He pointed out that he had done so himself in Nagpur (from where he hails), setting up projects to help around 500 widows of Vidarbha farmers who committed suicide.

Taking over at a time when the BJP has faced repeated electoral losses, and is plagued by internal dissension, Gadkari seemed keen to deflect the party’s focus from power grabbing to social service.

“What are we waiting for?” he asked. “Power? We can change the scenario even without being in power. Let’s do something for the poor right away.”

The new president’s renewed focus on the poor could well be an attempt to match Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s repeated forays into backward and Dalit areas. But Gadkari was generous to his Congress rival. “It’s a good thing. Karne dijiye. Meri Shubh kamnayen. (Let him continue. My good wishes),” he replied when asked about Rahul’s efforts.

Facing a volley of questions on issues like Hindutva and the Ram temple at Ayodhya, Gadkari steadfastly refused to get provoked. “Our stand is known,” he said. “A new president does not mean our ideology has changed.”

Gadkari’s measured, low-key remarks seemed a deliberate strategy to draw attention from himself, while he set about rebuilding the party. He promised a new work culture. “Indiscipline will not be tolerated,” he said.

There will be quick decisions, wide consultations and performance audit at every level.”