Once the candidate’s name is finalized, the party will seek proposals from different states.
NEW DELHI: Suspense still lingers on the name of the BJP’s new national presidents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh on a one-day visit on Sunday, where he will participate in a RSS program in Nagpur. The announcement of the name is expected following PM’s Nagpur visit.
RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat will also attend the Nagpur program, where a discussion between him and PM Modi is expected, though no official confirmation has been given. According to party sources, the process for the election could begin after Sunday, possibly during Navratri. To discuss this, the party has called a meeting in Delhi on April 10, bringing together Chief Ministers from BJP-ruled states, state presidents, and election in-charges.
Once the candidate’s name is finalized, the party will seek proposals from different states. As per the party’s constitution, the election of the national president requires the process to be completed in more than half of the states. Sources indicate that this has already been achieved in most states. However, challenges remain in key states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, where balancing caste equations is a major issue.
Within the party, there are differing opinions on the caste representation for these states. Some leaders support a Brahmin candidate, while others want a non-Brahmin. In Uttarakhand, a Brahmin candidate is highly likely. However, the situation in Uttar Pradesh has become more complex. Initially, a Brahmin candidate was considered, but now there is growing support for selecting a leader from the backward classes. In Madhya Pradesh, discussions are underway regarding altering the long-standing Brahmin-OBC coordination. Previously, the Chief Minister was from the OBC category, while the state president was a Brahmin. Now, the party is considering appointing a tribal leader as the state president, as no tribal representation currently exists. These caste considerations are crucial in shaping the leadership structure, and the final decision will reflect the party’s broader electoral strategy and social balancing efforts.
Several prominent names are being considered for the post of party president including of Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Manohar Lal Khattar, former Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje, former Union Minister Smriti Irani, and G. Kishan Reddy.