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According to the BJP’s constitution, the party must elect 50 per cent of its 37 organisational state chiefs before proceeding with the election for national president.
JP Nadda, who took charge in January 2020, was originally slated to complete his term in June 2023. (PTI Photo)
The BJP has achieved the required majority – 19 – enabling it to declare the name of its new National President who will succeed Jagat Prakash Nadda, at any time the party chooses. The party now has 22 state chiefs, making it ready to declare its national president.
HOW DID BJP JUMP FROM 14 TO 22 STATE CHIEFS IN 2 DAYS?
According to the BJP’s constitution, the party must elect 50 per cent of its 37 organisational state chiefs before proceeding with the election for national president, which are typically chosen unanimously. By Sunday, the BJP had only elected new leaders in 14 states. However, on Monday, the party announced several new leaders, including N Ramachander Rao for Telangana and PVN Madhav for Andhra Pradesh. Officially, the BJP received two more state leaders – VP Ramalingam and K Beichhua – who were elected as the party presidents of Puducherry and Mizoram, respectively.
With 16 states accounted for, the BJP was three state leaders short of the magic number by Tuesday morning. However, the elections of Rao and Madhav were merely formalities. Congratulatory calls and bouquets began arriving from Monday afternoon. The BJP was confidently at 18 states. Uttarakhand completed the requirement with the re-election of Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt as the president of the Uttarakhand BJP. This announcement was made by the party’s central observer Harsh Malhotra in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and senior party leaders, including state in-charge Dushyant Gautam. This not only confirmed Bhatt’s re-election but also the BJP’s achievement of the magic number.
The number increased to 22 with the re-election of Rajiv Bindal as the unopposed party president for Himachal Pradesh – JP Nadda’s home state. Later on Tuesday, Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju formalised Ravindra Chavan’s election as the BJP Maharashtra President. Additionally, Anil Tiwari was appointed as the new president of the BJP’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands unit in a late evening development.
The number is expected to reach 24 by Thursday when the wins of Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal BJP Presidents are out, though the names will be revealed by Wednesday itself.
THE DARK HORSES OF THE STATES
MAHARASHTRA
Ravindra Chavan, a relatively young leader at 54, is highly trusted by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for his organisational skills. Chavan, a four-time MLA from Dombivli, has served as a Maharashtra minister twice and has led local body elections and the Mumbai Metropolitan Election for the BJP. Previously, he worked as the working president under Bawankule, an arrangement acknowledged by party leadership after he lost out on the CM race.
Chavan was the natural choice for Maharashtra due to his political backing and impressive CV. The Delhi BJP leadership recognised his behind-the-scenes role in forming the Eknath Shinde-Fadnavis government in 2022 as a significant factor in his selection.
MADHYA PRADESH
Though the name will be announced on Wednesday, Hemant Khandelwal is expected to succeed BD Sharma, having received support from both Sharma and CM Mohan Yadav. A four-time MP from Betul with roots in Uttar Pradesh, Khandelwal has deep connections with the BJP’s core ideology and has played a key role in strengthening the organisation in MP. He has also headed the Kushabhau Thackeray Vichar Nyas.
Khandelwal’s non-controversial background in a state known for controversies has worked in his favour. Although other candidates like Rajendra Shukla, Arvind Singh Bhadouria, and Lal Singh Arya were considered, none could secure the position.
UTTARAKHAND
After taking over as Uttarakhand BJP chief in 2022, succeeding Madan Kaushik, Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt was re-elected on Tuesday, supported by state leadership including CM Dhami. Bhatt is the first Uttarakhand BJP President to be re-elected. His Brahmin caste and ability to coordinate between the government and the organisation have worked in his favour.
Other contenders included Aditya Kothari, Vinod Chamoli, Madan Kaushik, and Dipti Rawat Bhardwaj, but Bhatt’s re-election was confirmed.
TELANGANA
In a region known for Dravidian politics, the BJP chose upper-caste Brahmin leader Naraparaju Ramachander Rao to head Telangana. Rao, with strong RSS roots, was unanimously agreed upon by both the Sangh and the BJP. His ability to keep the party united and strong until the Assembly polls in three and a half years made him the ideal candidate.
Eatala Rajender was a front runner but couldn’t secure the position due to opposition from the Bandi Sanjay faction and his past association with BRS. Laxman expressed his unwillingness to head the state unit after his name was mentioned in the media.
ANDHRA PRADESH
PVN Madhav, BJP’s new state chief in Andhra Pradesh, is seen as a loyal leader with a background linked to the Sangh and good regional representation. As the BJP aims to expand its presence in southern India, having a leader like Madhav is crucial. He succeeds D Purandeshwari, a well-known leader from the NTR family.
Other contenders included Dr PV Parthasarathi, Sujana Chowdary, and Purighalla Raghuram, but Madhav’s previous experience as an MLC worked in his favour.
SMALLER STATES: BJP PRESIDENTS AND THEIR USP
In JP Nadda’s home state, Himachal Pradesh, senior BJP leader Rajiv Bindal was re-elected without contest. Bindal has been associated with the RSS since childhood and brings significant experience as a five-time MLA and former minister. His proximity to Nadda has been beneficial for his political career.
In Puducherry, VP Ramalingam was elected unopposed as BJP President. A businessman and former nominated legislator, Ramalingam will be the face of the BJP in Puducherry, where the party aims to come to power in the next assembly election.
On Monday, K Beichhua was elected as the new president of BJP Mizoram. A former Mizo National Front leader and retired surgeon, Beichhua previously served as the Minister of State for Social Welfare, Excise & Narcotics, and Sericulture in Mizoram. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to expand the BJP’s influence in Mizoram.
Lastly, late on Tuesday evening, Anil Tiwari was appointed as the new president of the BJP’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands unit, replacing Ajay Bairagi. Tiwari, with a background in the RSS, joined the party in 1990.
The ball is now in the court of the BJP Headquarters at 6A Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg. The party can announce its new national president at any time, and the decision will be made by the BJP’s top leadership in due course.
Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in …Read More
Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in … Read More
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