Tribune News ServiceNew Delhi, January 28
Mr Muppavarapu Venkaiah Naidu was today unanimously re-elected President of the BJP for another term for three years.
Announcing this at a press conference here, the BJP’s election officer O.P. Kohli said a formal announcement would be made at the national executive meeting of the party on February 6 here.
The meeting is expected to be attended by about 14,000 party leaders and activists from all over the country, including party MPs and MLAs. On January 23 nomination papers from the MPs and 14 states, all proposing the name of Mr Naidu were received, Mr Kohli said, adding that since there was no other name proposed for the presidential position, Mr Naidu has been declared elected unopposed.
Mr Naidu had taken over the presidentship of the party on July 1, 2002, after the then president K. Jana Krishnamurthi was removed unceremoniously in the middle of the term from the post.
Known for his organisational skills and quick repartee, Mr Naidu shot into limelight and scaled the pinnacle of the BJP hierarchy due to aggressive pursuit of party agenda from student day politics in Andhra Pradesh.
Mr Naidu is the second leader from Andhra Pradesh to don the party chief’s post after the tainted Bangaru Laxman hogged the national limelight when he was made official spokesman at the party’s headquarters.
