Shimla, March 16 (IANS) Expanding the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) support base to bring it back to power is the main priority, said Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister J.P. Nadda said, after being named a party general secretary.

Talking to reporters here, Nadda said: 'We will try to strengthen the party by expanding its cadre, their ideological grooming and making it fit to rule the country and give the best possible governance.

'Our president (Nitin Gadkari) has laid down the roadmap and we will try to implement it across the country. Our main priority would be to form the next government at the centre,' he said.

Nadda, who started his political career as a student leader in 1978, said the new list of office bearers has people from across the country.

'It is a balanced list where all sections have been given due representation. Special emphasis has been given to the youth to infuse new spirit in the party. On the whole, it's a mixture of young and the old and experienced people,' he said.

Nadda emphasised that the BJP was not a party controlled by a family or dynasty.

'In the Congress, now Rahul Gandhi is a young leader, so everybody is talking about the need to induct young leaders. Our party has taken care of the youth since its inception.'