In a significant political development, newly appointed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national working president Nitin Nabin resigned from his ministerial positions in the Bihar government on Tuesday. The move came swiftly after he assumed his new organisational responsibility within the party.
Departments Reallocated to BJP Colleagues
Nabin was holding the crucial portfolios of the Road Construction Department and the Urban Development and Housing Department. He formally submitted his resignation to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Following his exit from the cabinet, the two departments have been allocated to other BJP ministers. Sources indicate that the Road Construction Department has been handed over to Industry Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal. Meanwhile, the Urban Development and Housing Department has been assigned to Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha.
Sinha already oversees the Revenue and Land Reforms Department and the Mines and Geology Department. It is important to note that the BJP has not yet released an official notification confirming these allocations.
Organisational Elevation and Political Strategy
Nabin officially took charge as the BJP's national working president on Monday. Senior party leaders praised his organisational skills, stating they would provide a fresh direction to the party's public service and nation-building journey. He was felicitated at the BJP headquarters in the presence of top leaders, including party president and Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Many within the party view Nabin's promotion as a strategic masterstroke ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections scheduled for next year. His caste background, performance, and polite demeanour, which have earned him goodwill across party lines, are considered significant assets.
Caste Calculus and Bengal Connect
Political observers point to Nabin's Kayastha community background as a key factor in his appointment. The Kayastha community, considered an upper caste, forms a substantial section of West Bengal's electorate. Nabin's elevation is being analysed within this specific political context.
Historically, two prominent Kayastha leaders, Jyoti Basu and Bidhan Chandra Roy, served as Chief Ministers of West Bengal for a combined period of over 35 years. With the BJP's political prestige at stake in the upcoming state polls, Nabin's community identity and extensive organisational experience are seen as potential advantages.
According to his biodata, Nabin brings considerable organisational expertise to his new role. His past responsibilities include serving as the party's election in-charge for Sikkim in 2019, organisational in-charge for the state, and co-organisational in-charge for Chhattisgarh from 2021 to 2024. More recently, he was the Lok Sabha election in-charge for Chhattisgarh in 2024 and has been the state in-charge of Chhattisgarh since July 2024.
This reshuffle underscores the BJP's focus on balancing organisational responsibilities with governmental duties, especially with an eye on crucial electoral battles in the eastern part of the country.
