BJP set to announce new president by April-end, Cabinet expansion likely to follow: Report

The BJP may announce its new president by the end of April, sources said. (File/PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to announce its new president by the end on this month with the poll process set to kick-off after Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns from his visit to Saudi Arabia scheduled from April 22 to April 23, CNN-News18 reported on Friday citing sources.

The appointment of the BJP's new national president could also necessitate a Cabinet reshuffle or expansion since many of the likely frontrunners are ministers in the Union Cabinet led by PM Modi.

The expansion, if necessitated, could see new faces from BJP's key alliance partners such as the NCP, Shiv Sena and other allies in Bihar find a place in the Council of Ministers. Among those seen as top contenders for the post of BJP president include Union Ministers Manohar Lal Khattar, Dharmendra Pradhan and Bhupender Yadav.

Notably, the Ajit Pawar-led NCP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have expressed their desire to get a full Cabinet position in the central government after the NDA's emphatic win in the Assembly elections in the state last year.

With Bihar elections around the corner, any Cabinet reshuffle is also likely to see the induction of Bihar allies such as Upendra Kushwaha into the Union Cabinet. As per the News18 report, the cabinet expansion cum reshuffle could be closer to the first anniversary of the Modi 3.0 government in June.

As per the News18 report, the BJP will consult the RSS sometime next week and a notification regarding the poll process could be announced around the same time. The announcement will set off the nomination process which will then be followed by the declaration of the new president, which is expected to be prompt in the event of a unanimous decision.

The poll process, sources said, is likely to begin after PM Modi's return from his visit to Saudi Arabia. While PM Modi will be meeting US Vice President JD Vance on April 21, he will be on a visit to Saudi Arabia from April 22-23.

The developments come on the back of a flurry of meetings being held at the top levels of the government. Discussions are believed to have been held at the highest levels over the next BJP president, the challenge to the Waqf Act in Supreme Court and the top court's recent orders setting time limits for the President of India to decide on Bills referred to her by states.