Tamil Nadu   

Ganesan emerging as a `consensus' candidate for post of BJP State president

T. Ramakrishnan

Initially, Pon. Radhakrishnan and H. Raja were touted as likely candidates

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party's national vice-president L. Ganesan is emerging as the consensus candidate for the presidentship of the Tamil Nadu unit.

A few days ago, the central leadership had consultations with leaders from the State and zeroed in on Mr. Ganesan, according to party sources.

The search began for the new president in view of the expiry of the three-year-long tenure of the present incumbent C.P. Radhakrishnan.

Filing of nominations

Filing of nominations will take place on September 21 and the election outcome will be formally announced the next day. Ram Naik, former Union Petroleum Minister, is the poll officer.

Initially, Pon. Radhakrishnan and H. Raja, general secretaries, were considered.

Though the two have their own strengths, the predominant feeling in the party is that a senior man should take over as the party is passing through a lean patch, after the drubbing it received in the 2004 Lok Sabha and the 2006 Assembly elections.

Formal announcement

Eventually, names of Mr. Ganesan and the former Union Minister S. Thirunavukkarasar were considered.

As the former is senior and enjoys the support of various sections in the party, Mr. Ganesan has been considered a better choice, the party sources said.

A formal announcement will be made on Friday.

Dattatreya to visit Chennai

When contacted, Bandaru Dattatreya, national secretary and `prabhari' in charge of Tamil Nadu, told The Hindu from Hyderabad that the name of Mr. Ganesan had come up along with those of Mr. Pon Radhakrishnan and Mr. Thirunavukkarasar.

He would arrive in Chennai on Wednesday and would hold meetings with office-bearers.

An attempt to arrive at a "consensus candidate" will be made.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Israel keen on R and D pact with State
Meet on fiscal stabilisation, debt sustainability
A.P. Shah decries bid to politicise Bar
Ganesan emerging as a `consensus' candidate for post of BJP State president
CBI arrests two in false insurance claim case
Declare Kerala law illegal, says Vaiko
Social justice gaining currency, says Anbazhagan
For a fool-proof election
Stalin's plea to students
Briefly

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu