Nitin Nabin's appointment as party chief likely to be formalised by January 20 as BJP prepares for rejig

BJP national working president Nitin Nabin.

The BJP is expected to ring in the New Year with a new party chief, with sources indicating that the party may formally appoint its working president, Nitin Nabin, as national president. He is likely to succeed JP Nadda, who has held the post since January 2020.

As per insiders, the requirements for organisational restructuring at the national level have been met, paving the way for the former Bihar minister’s appointment to the highest post in the party by mid-January, and to hold its reins until the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, according to a report by the Indian Express.

Earlier, sources were cited as saying by ANI that BJP chiefs of all states are likely to be called to Delhi after January 15 for the election of the party's National President. The election process for the BJP's National President is expected to be completed between January 18 and January 2O.

The organisational election process has been completed in 30 out of 36 states/UTs, a senor BJP leader said.

“After the poll dates are announced, the process to elect the (BJP) national president is likely to take around three to four days. This will be followed by the ratification of the choice by the National Council,” the leader told IE.

As per the BJP’s constitution, it is mandatory for the party to hold organisational elections from the booth-level upwards and requires that more than half the members of smaller sub-units be elected at each level before the election of the senior leaders in the BJP’s organisational hierarchy.

Scheduled early next year, the West Bengal elections will be the first test for the new BJP chief, according to party insiders. Nabin has been interacting with senior leaders in the party about the current circumstances related to the BJP’s potential campaign in the state.

The BJP's appointment of Nitin Nabin, 45, as national president will reflect the party's focus on projecting young leadership.