A full-time BJP working president seem unlikely to be appointed since it is a long-drawn process, and the current party chief, JP Nadda, who holds two Cabinet positions including health, has been tasked with other responsibilities in the new term of the Narendra Modi government.
Nadda has also been appointed the Leader of House in the Rajya Sabha, the post vacated by Piyush Goyal, who is now a member of the Lok Sabha.
For the BJP, the election to the post of party president could take four to six months. The party will begin the process soon by opening the membership drive. After which, elections will take place at the booth and district level. This will be followed by elections at the state level.
“As per Article XIX of the party’s Constitution, the president is elected by an electoral college consisting of members of the National Council as well as members of the State Council. Groups of 20 members of a state council can propose the name of any leader, with their consent, who has been a member of the party for 15 years. Any leader can hold the President’s post for two consecutive terms of three years each,” the BJP’s constitution reads.
However, in the recent BJP National Council meeting, an amendment was proposed to the Constitution whereby the incumbent may be asked to continue as party president.
The BJP has its plate full with the upcoming assembly elections in three states — Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand. Given the circumstances, it is evident that Nadda may be asked to continue until a new chief is appointed.
“There is a very crucial time which is coming up for the party and the focus of the entire organisation will be on the upcoming state elections. Since Nadda is the sitting president, it is important that he continues,” A top BJP source hinted that the incumbent must continue. Thus, it is unlikely that a working president will take his place.
“The situation was different in 2019, when it was pretty evident who was going to become the next president,” another source told News18.
In 2019, home minister Amit Shah continued to be the party president. Meanwhile, Nadda was appointed as the working president of the party and was handed over the reins in 2021. This happened because the BJP allows only ‘one position, one person’ rule.
“It is a different situation right now. We need to make sure that the organisation is at the topmost priority right now,” a senior leader said on why this exemption. “Party Se Samvidhan Hai Samvidhan Se Party Nahi Hai,” he added.
Nadda completed his second full term as the party president in January this year. However, after the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections, he was given an extension of another six months after June.
During his term as the party president, the BJP was able to win the elections of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh successfully. The party, however, continued its losing stint in Delhi. Under his tenure, the BJP was able to win 240 seats in the recent Lok Sabha polls and a formed a government at the Centre.
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