BJP will gain from Rajnath: Modi

New Delhi, Jan 23 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday congratulated BJP leader Rajnath Singh who is likely to become party president, and said the party would "gain from this" move.

"I called up Shri Rajnath Singh ji and congratulated him. He brings with him vast experience of both organisation and administration," Modi said on micro-blogging site twitter.

"Rajnath Singh ji served as agriculture minister in Atal ji's government (A.B. Vajpayee). He has always been associated with the farmers. BJP will gain from this," he said.

In dramatic developments Tuesday, incumbent BJP president Nitin Gadkari announced that he would not seek a second term. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Rajnath Singh emerged as Gadkari's likely successor.

Rajnath Singh's name emerged after a series of meetings involving party leaders Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Ram Lal and Ananth Kumar.

BJP leaders are meeting in Delhi and name of the new president is likely to be announced later during the day.

Selecting a BJP president is an internal affair of the party and I should not speak for or against the decision especially being a supporter of Arvind Kejriwal, I will vote for neither the Congress or the BJP.

However, I feel, selecting Rajnath Singh is a very poor decision, notwithstanding Modi's support.

Arun Jaitley would have been a better candidate.

Sushma Swaraj too may have been good for her oratory skills but I just cannot erase the photograph of her standing behind the Reddy brothers of Karnataka, blessing them in all their misdeeds.