The ongoing deliberations over the selection of the next BJP national president have reached a crucial stage. The choice of the new leader and the timing of the election are under the spotlight as the Sangh Parivar affiliates gear up for the “samanvay” (coordination) meeting in Palakkad, Kerala, later this month.
A five-hour meeting was held at Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s home on Sunday evening, where the VIP attendees included top figures from both the BJP and RSS, including Home Minister Amit Shah, Health Minister and BJP chief JP Nadda, RSS’ second-in-command Dattatreya Hosabele and joint general secretary Arun Kumar.
The BJP’s lackluster performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, particularly the massive setback in Uttar Pradesh, has necessitated discussions on strategy going forward. The upcoming Assembly elections in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand, as well as the first elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, make the selection of a new BJP president even more crucial.
Within the party, opinions are divided on how to pick its new chief. According to sources, one group wants the leadership to name a working president soon, who would eventually take over as the permanent president. Another faction suggests waiting until after the upcoming Assembly elections before making any major changes.
The RSS has made it clear that this time, the selection of the BJP president will involve their active participation. The Sangh’s leadership believes that the humbling Lok Sabha results necessitate the appointment of a leader who can effectively manage the party’s organisation.
The frequent coordination meetings between the RSS and BJP indicate a shift in dynamics, as the RSS is now seeking a more direct role in the party’s affairs, sources suggest.
While the BJP, along with its allies, managed a third consecutive term at the Centre, its reduced numbers in the Lok Sabha—from 303 in 2019 to 240 this year—have raised concerns. This decline is partly attributed to a perceived disconnect between the BJP leadership and the Sangh’s cadre.
The discussions have revealed that while there is alignment between the Sangh and BJP on broader ideological issues, communication gaps have surfaced, prompting measures for better synergy.
In June, BJP chief JP Nadda returned as the Health Minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet and also took on the role of Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers.
The selection of the working president will be made by the party’s parliamentary board. The working president will serve until the membership campaign and organisational election process conclude by the end of the year.
According to the BJP constitution, the national president is elected only after organisational elections are complete in 50 percent of the states. The membership campaign will run for about six months, with the new president elected in December-January. The new president’s term will begin in January 2025.
JP Nadda was appointed working president in 2019 and formally elected in January 2020. In 2019, after Amit Shah, the then party president, became Home Minister in PM Modi’s second term, he delegated the party’s responsibilities. The Parliamentary Board appointed Nadda as working president on June 17, 2019, and he became full-time party president on January 20, 2020. His term ended in January this year, but it was extended due to the general elections.
