New BJP president appointment unlikely ahead of Monsoon Session, no consensus yet on JP Nadda's successor

The Bharatiya Janata Party was earlier expected to announce its new president by the end of this month. (File: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to arrive at a consensus on the appointment of its new national president and it is unlikely for a new chief to take the helm ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament as was being widely speculated.

The Monsoon Session of parliament is scheduled to be held from July 21 to August 12.

The party leadership is now learnt to have shifted its focus to completing the selection of new state presidents in key states such as Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi and Haryana, before it proceeds to finalise its new national president, CNN-News18 reported citing sources.

The BJP has so far appointed presidents in around 27 of its 37 organisational units, including in major states such as Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh.

"The party requires 19 state elections. The BJP has long crossed that mark. But as of today, the party is of the considered opinion that Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, and Haryana state president elections should take place before going for the national presidential election," News18 quoted a source as saying.

However, consensus eludes its choice of a new national president despite organizational activity picking up following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's return from his five-nation foreign visit on July 10.

The appointment process of the BJP's top office-bearers usually follows a collaborative process which involves deliberations, and an approval, from its ideological parent the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Several rounds of discussions have already taken place between key leaders on the issue of the national president's appointment.

The RSS is learnt to be of the view that the new BJP president should be inclusive and accessible, a grassroots organiser, and should not be younger than a sexagenarian.

"After a decade of centralised leadership styles, the Sangh is keen on a leader who can bridge the grassroots and the high command, who can ensure the participation of all organisations and karyakartas (workers), someone who is seen as open to feedback—both from within the cadre and beyond," a source in the RSS had said earlier.

JP Nadda has held the party's national president post since 2020. His term ended in 2023, but the BJP extended it till 2024 so he could steer the party through the Lok Sabha elections.