The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to usher in the New Year with a significant leadership transition. According to party insiders, the appointment of the party's national working president, Nitin Nabin, as the new national president is likely to be formalised by the middle of January. He will succeed JP Nadda, who has held the top post since January 2020.
Organisational Process Nears Completion
Senior BJP leaders have indicated that the prerequisites for a national-level organisational restructuring have been largely fulfilled. This paves the way for Nabin, a former minister from Bihar, to assume the party's highest office. He is expected to steer the BJP through the crucial period leading up to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Nadda is set to complete a six-year tenure before the formal handover, which is anticipated next month. A senior BJP leader explained the procedural milestones: "We have conducted organisational polls in 30 out of 36 states and union territories, covering over 17 lakh of the 18 lakh polling booths and more than 950 of the 1,050 districts nationwide. This meets the criteria set by the party's constitution, and the remaining steps will be followed meticulously."
Timeline for the Presidential Election
The formal election process for the national president is expected to be swift once initiated. "After the poll dates are announced, the process to elect the national president should take around three to four days. This choice will then be ratified by the National Council," the leader added.
Given that the process is likely to be announced around Makar Sankranti (mid-January), party sources suggest the new president could be officially announced by January 20. The BJP's constitution mandates a bottom-up election process, requiring more than half the members of smaller units to be elected before moving up the hierarchy. For the national president election to begin, at least 19 of the party's 36 state and UT units must have elected their presidents.
Immediate Challenges for the New Chief
The first major electoral challenge for the incoming BJP president will be the West Bengal assembly elections, scheduled for early next year. Party insiders confirm that Nabin has already begun consultations with senior leaders regarding the BJP's potential campaign strategy and the current political circumstances in the state.
This leadership change marks a significant moment for the BJP as it consolidates its strategy and prepares for future electoral battles, with Nitin Nabin positioned to take the party's reins for the next phase.
