Assam’s governor-designate, BJP’s Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria, assured that he would maintain the dignity of the new posting bestowed on him by the President of India.

Seventy-eight years old Kataria, eight-time MLA from Udaipur, will succeed Jagdish Mukhi as new governor said he reached to this stage from a ordinary party worker.

Reacting to his name appearing on social media and uninterrupted calls of greetings, Kataria told the media said on Monday that he was not aware of this new posting though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called him two days ago asking him about his health and what was going on.

“When I came out after morning Puja and breakfast in my room, I received a number of calls from my well wishers, and now the Media thronged my residence. Now, I sought an official letter from the President’s office”, he modestly said.

When asked about the Udaipur assembly constituency that he represents, which is going to miss him and about his replacement as he is going to assume the charge as the governor, Kataria said, “There is no vacuum in the party at any level. There would be many Katarias like leaders having hardwork and dedication to the party but did not get a chance. After me a suitable and deserving leader would emerge and the party would give him/her a chance too”.

He recalled when former Prime Minister AB Vajpayee left for his heavenly abode after prolonged illness and said, “People thought of the same way, ‘who will lead the party’. He gave another example of Narendra Modi, a simple ordinary party worker who emerged as a leader, and he now has the amazing portfolio not only in the country but on the global network.

“I will have a new responsibility, I will do my best to maintain the dignity of the post bestowed on him by the President and the party”, he assured.

About ten months to go for the assembly polls, the saffron party will have to find a replacement for Kataria as leader of the Opposition in the assembly and a substitute for the Udaipur assembly constituency in upcoming state polls in December.