Pankaj Singh gives BJP moral high ground

Just a couple of days after the announcement of Pankaj Singh, son of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh, as the chief of Uttar Pradesh Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Pankaj has declined to accept the responsibility thereby giving the BJP a fillip.

In a letter written to the state BJP chief Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Pankaj Singh requested him to relieve him from the post with immediate effect. He has cited political reasons for his decision, Tripathi told reporters today.

Tripathi added that the decision on Pankaj's request will be taken after discussing with the senior party leaders.

When asked whether he had consulted the party president before appointing Pankaj to the post, Tripathi said he had consulted his senior colleagues in the state party unit, but had not consulted Rajnath Singh.

Earlier also, Pankaj had refused to contest the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections after he was announced as the party's candidate from Chiraigaon seat in Mirzapur district.