Rajnath takes over as BJP chief

Former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee (R) offers sweets to newly appointed president of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), Rajnath Singh (C) as former BJP president L. K. Advani (L) looks on, at the party headquarters in New Delhi yesterday. Rajnath Singh took charge as president of the BJP from hawkish former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani, marking a change of guard in the 25 year old party. PHOTO: AFP

Addressing a press conference immediately after taking over the top party post from LK Advani, he said his other main tasks would be to maintain the clean image of the party and carry out its extensive expansion.

Lashing out at the UPA government, he said during the last 20 months of its rule, problems have cropped up all around.

"Farmers are not getting a good deal from the present Government, internal security situation has deteriorated and prices of petrol, diesel and LPG have gone up while the public distribution system has collapsed," he said.

Ridiculing the Congress slogan "Congress ke hath, aam admi ke saath (Congress hand is for the common people)", Singh said it has turned out to be "Congress ke haath, aam admi par aghat (Congress hand is harming the common people)".