Senior BJP leader Ch. Vidyasagar Rao has termed his appointment as Governor of Maharashtra as a reminder of his constitutional responsibility. Expressing happiness at the elevation, Mr. Rao termed it as the crowning glory in his long political career as a Bharatiya Janata Party member and leader across the positions he held in the party and as a people’s representative.
Graciously reciprocating the dozens of bouquets and best wishes on his new assignment at the State party office here on Tuesday afternoon, the septuagenarian went down memory lane from Karimnagar, Hyderabad, New Delhi and very soon to Mumbai. He spoke of his days as a student leader in the Law College at Osmania University, to his entry into exalted portals of the Legislative Council, Assembly and Parliament, including his stint as a Union Minister of State.
“Every step of the way, people have been very supportive of me, which reminded me constantly that it was important for me to work as a common cadre in a party that recognises hard work. I will strive harder in my new role at the Raj Bhavan in Maharashtra and assure you that I shall do everything to make all of you proud,” he said, to applause.
Mr. Rao added that the presence of Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Kalraj Mishra who was incidentally at the party office during a two-day visit here, added to his happiness. He echoed Mr. Mishra’s words that the Bharatiya Janata Party recognised hard work and leadership.
Celebration time in party office It was celebrations all the way at the BJP State party office and people fell over themselves to congratulate Ch. Vidyasagar Rao on his appointment as Maharashtra Governor.
The flurry of activity overshadowed the meeting convened to mark the visit to the party office of Union Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Kalraj Mishra, his first to the State after becoming a Union Minister.
Known for being a jovial man, he went on to say that when he saw all the people waiting with bouquets, he thought they had come for him. “Only when I came into the meeting hall did I see that you were all here to congratulate Mr. Rao,” he said, with a good-natured laugh that drew applause.
But on a serious note, he said now that people had elected the BJP to power and stood behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it is the responsibility of party cadres and leaders to safeguard the faith that voters had reposed in them. BJP’s Telangana State president G. Kishan Reddy said it’s a great day for the party here when Mr. Vidyasagar Rao was named Maharashtra Governor and that it coincided with Mr. Mishra’s visit. The presence of former Sikkim Governor V. Rama Rao made it happier because Mr. Vidyasagar Rao is was now the second BJP leader to be given a gubernatorial responsibility, he said.
