BJP set to name new national president before Bihar poll dates; top brass consulted, decision imminent
The BJP is poised to appoint a new national president ahead of the announcement of Bihar election dates, with extensive consultations delaying the final call, sources indicated. The party plans to fight the Bihar polls under refreshed national leadership, but the selection process has taken longer due to multiple moving parts.
Senior BJP leaders and figures from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh have sounded out around 100 prominent stakeholders for potential names, including former party chiefs, senior Union ministers, and leaders with RSS/BJP links who have also held constitutional offices, according to sources.
Another factor affecting timelines is the September 9 vice-presidential election. The contest—triggered by Jagdeep Dhankhar’s unexpected resignation last month has prompted the BJP to focus on ensuring maximum support for its nominee, Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan.
Internal organisational polls have also contributed to the delay. The party is in the midst of electing state unit presidents in key states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, with Haryana, Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab, and Manipur still to be concluded; Punjab currently has a working president. Party rules stipulate that at least 19 of 36 state and UT units must have elected chiefs before a national president can be chosen. Last month, the BJP said it had completed this process in 28 states.
Incumbent national president J.P. Nadda elected in January 2020 has received two extensions beyond his three-year term, first to steer the organisation through the 2024 Lok Sabha election and then for ongoing organisational restructuring.
The same approach is guiding selections at lower tiers. For mandal presidents, the party is pushing generational change by capping the age at under 40. District and state chiefs must have a minimum of 10 years of active membership, a move aimed at addressing worker discontent over leaders from other parties being handed significant organisational roles.