Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) preisdent Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday pulled out of the race to be party president, paving the way for veteran leader Rajnath Singh.
Gadkari resigned on Tuesday amid increasingly visible rifts in the party. Some speculate that the resignation was a result of an anti-graft investigation that has plagued Gadkari. He said he is stepping aside since there is no consensus on his name for the top post.
"I do not wish that the probe should in any way adversely affect the interest of the BJP," Gadkari, whose is under the scanner for the dubious funding of conglomerate Purti Group, said.
He denied any wrong doing and added, “I have committed no wrong or any impropriety either directly or indirectly. I shall continue to serve my party as a committed worker. I have conveyed my decision to my colleagues."
Action packed Tuesday saw high drama senior leaders Yashwant Sinha and Sushma Swaraj were considered as the party struggled to arrive at its traditional single-candidate consensus for the President election.
BJP leader Mahesh Jethmalani, who had earlier threatened to challenge Gadkari for the post of the party chief, said he has been denied nomination by the party to contest against the party president.