His predecessor LK Advani may have surprised many in the party with his twin-yatra announcement after the Varanasi blasts but BJP chief Rajnath Singh insists there is no challenge to his authority as head of the main Opposition.
In an interview to Karan Thapar for the Devil's Advocate programme on CNN-IBN, he also said "on oath" that Advani never convened a single meeting without him.
He was replying to a question on reports that Advani convened meetings when the BJP chief was out of Delhi thus ensuring that decisions were taken without Singh's presence.
"All my senior colleagues and other colleagues respect me. Definitely, I exercise my authority. No question about it," Singh remarked denying reports that he had been forced to participate in the Bharat Suraksha Yatra announced by the former Deputy Prime Minister in the wake of the Varanasi blasts earlier this year.
"It was not so...," he said when referred to reports that there was no consultation with him before the yatra announcement.
"Fifteen days before the declaration, Advaniji discussed with me and we decided that at any time we should start our yatra. I would like to say with full conviction that Advaniji consulted with me. Consent was given by me. I did not say yes under any complusion", Singh said.
{{/usCountry}}"Fifteen days before the declaration, Advaniji discussed with me and we decided that at any time we should start our yatra. I would like to say with full conviction that Advaniji consulted with me. Consent was given by me. I did not say yes under any complusion", Singh said.
{{/usCountry}}Also, he denied that the RSS had admonished the party during the recent session at former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's residence for speaking in "multiple voices".
"The party never speaks in multiple voices. We always take decisions on the basis of consensus. I think there is no individualism in our party. Never it was. We work with a team spirit," he said.