In a significant political development in Patna, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) witnessed a formal change of guard at its state headquarters on Thursday. Sanjay Saraogi, a five-time MLA from Darbhanga and a former minister, officially assumed the role of the party's state president. He succeeded Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, who is also a minister, in adherence to the party's 'one person, one post' principle.
A Pledge to Strengthen the Party's Foundation
Addressing a felicitation function organised in his honour, Saraogi acknowledged the weight of his new responsibility. He outlined his primary focus as strengthening the party organisation and maintaining its ideological core. "A huge responsibility has come on my shoulders," Saraogi stated. He emphasised that since workers form the backbone of the party, a key objective would be to ensure seamless coordination between the party organisation, its grassroots workers, and the ministerial group within the government.
Earlier in the day, Saraogi had conveyed a similar message to reporters after paying homage at the life-size statue of B R Ambedkar near the Patna High Court. His political journey, as he recounted, began in the RSS shakha, progressed through the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and has now culminated in the top party post in Bihar. "In a way, my political journey has been from the individual 'I' to 'We'. I will continue to strengthen the organisation with the cooperation of party workers and the guidance of seniors," he reflected.
Senior Leaders Extend Support and Highlight Opportunity
The felicitation event saw the presence of prominent state leaders, indicating strong internal support for the new president. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary (a former state BJP chief himself) and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with the outgoing president Dilip Kumar Jaiswal, addressed the gathering.
Samrat Chaudhary pointed out that with no major elections in Bihar until the 2030 assembly polls, Saraogi has a significant opportunity to consolidate the party's structure. "He has a big opportunity to further strengthen the organisation and will receive active cooperation and guidance from all former state presidents," Chaudhary remarked. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha expressed confidence that the "honour, respect and self-esteem of party workers will increase" under Saraogi's leadership.
The function was also attended by Legislative Council Chairman Awadhesh Narayan Singh, Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, Minister Mangal Pandey, former Union Minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, and several MLAs and MLCs.
A Week of Reshuffles and a Course Correction
Saraogi's elevation is part of a notable week for the Bihar BJP, which also saw the appointment of Nitin Nabin, a five-time MLA from Bankipur and a minister, as the party's youngest national working president. This move has reportedly boosted enthusiasm among the rank and file, evident from the large turnout at Saraogi's felicitation.
Political observers view Saraogi's appointment as a strategic course correction. Unlike some of his immediate predecessors, Saraogi's political roots are deeply embedded in RSS-affiliated organisations like the ABVP, signalling a return to a leadership model that prioritises a strong organisational background.
Saraogi concluded his address by expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president J P Nadda, and the national working president for reposing their faith in him. His day began with seeking blessings at temples in his hometown Darbhanga before travelling to Patna, where a rousing welcome with arches, flags, and banners lined the route from his residence to the party office.
