<p>After taking charge of the state BJP, newly-appointed president Madan Lal Saini, in his first address, said the party’s workers are his priority and they will be respected. </p>.<p>While addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Jaipur, Saini who, took over his new position amid the chanting of Vedic rituals said, said he was a common worker of the party — a farmer's son who even today ploughs his field and takes buses.</p>.<p>In his maiden speech at party headquarters on Saturday, he said the upcoming Assembly elections are a big challenge.</p>.<p>"The new post is a crown of thorns. These are testing times and we have work hard to retain power in the state," Saini said.</p>.<p>He also tried to boost the morale of the party workers who are at present feeling low after the BJP lost in the recent bypolls and without a president of the last three months.</p>.<p>With 25 seats in the Lok Sabha, Rajasthan, which votes for the 200-member Assembly later this year, the new position is crucial for Saini.</p>.<p>After the position of president lay vacant for three months, selecting 75-year-old Saini, an OBC member, is seen as a move to make sure backward caste votes don't swing the Congress' way and give their star Ashok Gehlot a tough competition.</p>.<p>Both leaders belong to the same community. The post of the president has been lying vacant every since Ashok Parnami resigned on April 18.</p>
<p>After taking charge of the state BJP, newly-appointed president Madan Lal Saini, in his first address, said the party’s workers are his priority and they will be respected. </p>.<p>While addressing the media at the BJP headquarters in Jaipur, Saini who, took over his new position amid the chanting of Vedic rituals said, said he was a common worker of the party — a farmer's son who even today ploughs his field and takes buses.</p>.<p>In his maiden speech at party headquarters on Saturday, he said the upcoming Assembly elections are a big challenge.</p>.<p>"The new post is a crown of thorns. These are testing times and we have work hard to retain power in the state," Saini said.</p>.<p>He also tried to boost the morale of the party workers who are at present feeling low after the BJP lost in the recent bypolls and without a president of the last three months.</p>.<p>With 25 seats in the Lok Sabha, Rajasthan, which votes for the 200-member Assembly later this year, the new position is crucial for Saini.</p>.<p>After the position of president lay vacant for three months, selecting 75-year-old Saini, an OBC member, is seen as a move to make sure backward caste votes don't swing the Congress' way and give their star Ashok Gehlot a tough competition.</p>.<p>Both leaders belong to the same community. The post of the president has been lying vacant every since Ashok Parnami resigned on April 18.</p>