Why Nitin Nabin has been named BJP working president & not full-time party chief

Nitin Nabin with union home minister Shah

Bihar minister Nitin Nabin on Monday took charge as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national working president, in the presence of top leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda, a day after the party’s parliamentary board appointed him to the role.

It may be noted that the BJP does not have a provision of a working president. So, why has Nabin been appointed to the role?

Nitin Nabin is only the second person in BJP’s history to occupy the post of a working president. The first was JP Nadda, who held the post in 2019 after Amit Shah became the union home minister.

Nadda remained in the post for about six months and assisted Shah -- the then BJP national president – before eventually being elected to the post formally.

Nadda has now served as the BJP national president for close to six years. The BJP Constitution stipulates that the party chief may hold office for two terms, each lasting three years, according to an NDTV report.

The appointment of Nabin as working president also seems to be an interim measure.

The Kharmas factor

The presidential election could take around four days and may be completed soon after January 14, the NDTV report mentioned citing BJP leaders.

Despite a formal election, Nabin’s rise is considered inevitable, given the BJP and RSS preference for consensus. He is likely to work alongside Nadda, learning the organisational ropes before taking over as party chief, mirroring Nadda’s transition under Amit Shah.

The BJP has reportedly postponed the election for its national president and opted to appoint a working president because Kharmas commenced today. In Hindu tradition, Kharmas is viewed as a restrained period, with astrology advising against holding major auspicious events. The period will continue until January 14, culminating with Makar Sankranti.

Once this period ends, the process for the selection of a new party chief could begin.

The BJP has also wrapped up organisational elections across 30 of the 37 states and Union Territories. This development is significant because the party’s rules mandate that organisational polls be completed in at least half the states before the election of the party chief can be held.

Who is Nitin Nabin?

Nitin Nabin, 45, is the youngest BJP national working president. A five-time MLA from Bihar, Nabin currently serves as the state's road construction minister and has previously held portfolios including urban development and housing and the law department.

The son of veteran BJP leader Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, Nabin, combines administrative experience with a long organisational career within the party.

What BJP leaders said as Nabin took charge as national working president

Extending his hearty congratulations to Nabin on his assuming the charge of the key party post, Nadda said he is fully confident that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's guidance, the working president will provide a new direction to the BJP's journey of public service and nation-building.

"At the same time, you will take the BJP government's public welfare policies and the organisation's ideas to the people with even greater resolve. I extend my best wishes for your new responsibilities and successful tenure," Nadda said in a post on X.

In his congratulatory message to Nabin, Shah said he is confident that under his leadership, the BJP will expand even further and he will take the policies of the Modi government and the party's ideology to every individual in the country.

"I pray to God for your successful tenure," Shah said in a post on X.