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Former UP Chief Minister Rajnath Singh took over as
the new president of the BJP at a ceremony held at New
Delhi.
The new party president is scheduled to hold a press
briefing later in the day.
Singh is the third party president in 15 months as M.
Venkaiah Naidu had to step down as party president midway
in October 2004, while Advani, who took over the reins
then, resigned bowing to pressure from the RSS over
his controversial remarks on Jinnah.
Earlier, the fifty four year old Singh dismissed reports
that the RSS never interfered in the working of the
party.
"We are all 'swayam sevaks'. We consult the RSS
whenever required. Whether it was the earlier Jana Sangh
or the present BJP, RSS has never interfered in their
affairs," Singh said.
Singh's remarks assume significance as Advani had at
the party's Chennai National Executive stressed on the
need to change the public perception that RSS was interfering
in the day-to-day affairs of BJP.
When asked what was the biggest challenge before him
as party chief and how he would face it, Singh said,
"Almighty has always helped me in finding a solution
to problems." To a question, he said, "There
were no internal differences in the party in the past.
Nor there will be in the future."
On UP Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav's reported
accusation that there was a nexus between him and the
mafia, Singh said, "He should initiate a CBI inquiry
in this regard."
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