BJP likely to name new national president after vice-presidential poll in September

The announcement of the new party president is, however, expected to be made before the Bihar assembly polls, which are seen as a critical electoral battle ahead of the 2027 Presidential election.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reportedly decided to postpone the announcement of its new national president until after the Vice-Presidential election in September. This marks a calculated pause in its organisational reshuffle amid shifting post-2024 political dynamics.

As per party sources cited in a News18 report, while BJP president JP Nadda’s extended term was expected to end following the Lok Sabha elections, the leadership has chosen to defer the appointment to maintain internal stability during a politically sensitive period.

The decision, states the report, is driven by both strategy and symbolism, as the party navigates tightened parliamentary arithmetic and prepares for crucial state elections.

The Vice President of India also functions as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha, a role of increased significance at a time when the BJP-led NDA's numbers in the upper house are under pressure.

To be noted, with a resurgent opposition and a slimmer Lok Sabha majority post-elections, the BJP is focusing on effective floor coordination and consensus-building, which party leaders believe would be disrupted by an immediate leadership change.

The announcement of the new party president is, however, expected to be made before the Bihar assembly polls, which are seen as a critical electoral battle ahead of the 2027 Presidential election.

Internally, the BJP is weighing several names for the top post, individuals seen as organisationally strong, administratively competent, and aligned with the PM Modi-Shah vision leading up to 2029.

Moreover, compatibility with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) remains a key criterion.

According to party insiders stated in the above report, the next president is likely to be a grassroots organiser, over 60 years of age, and someone capable of bridging the gap between the central leadership and the party cadre, a preference echoed by the RSS.

The BJP has, thus far, completed appointments in 27 of its 37 state units, including in politically significant states like Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh. However, appointments in key states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, and Haryana are still pending. Party leaders suggest these should be finalised before announcing the new national president to ensure smoother coordination.

JP Nadda, who took over as BJP president in 2020, had his term extended through 2024 to steer the party through the general elections. Now, with legislative responsibilities piling up and high-stakes polls in Bihar and West Bengal on the horizon, the BJP appears to be prioritising parliamentary pragmatism over immediate organisational overhaul.

Not that this.

The delay also provides breathing space to manage potential factionalism and enables the leadership to carefully balance caste, regional, and generational considerations in its next major internal transition. A cabinet reshuffle may also follow once the new president takes charge, sources hinted in the report.