New Delhi:
The election of the new National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is unlikely to take place this year, despite earlier signals that the change would come before the Bihar assembly polls. The party now appears set to contest the crucial Bihar elections under the leadership of J.P. Nadda, whose extended tenure has already crossed its original term.Nadda, who is increasingly active, has overseen the announcement of the core team and strategy for Bihar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, regarded as the BJP’s “Chanakya,” has taken charge of the state campaign, with the Sangh Parivar already mobilised. Reports suggest that the Election Commission, which is visiting Bihar on Tuesday, could announce the poll schedule soon. Bihar must have a new government in place before November 26, and elections are expected to be conducted in two phases.
For the BJP, Bihar holds special importance. Victory here is seen as vital to consolidating its coalition government at the Centre and strengthening its position for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. After Bihar, assembly elections are due in 2026 in West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Party strategists are already looking ahead: retaining Assam, dislodging the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, blocking the Congress’s return in Kerala, and raising BJP’s vote share in Tamil Nadu are seen as the next big challenges.
Beyond that, the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections loom large. With UP and neighbouring states like Uttarakhand and Punjab going to the polls in early 2027, the BJP views victory in the Hindi heartland as indispensable for holding power in Delhi in 2029. Every political move made now is calibrated with Bihar and UP in mind.
Meanwhile, the opposition is sharpening its caste-based strategy. The Congress and RJD are jointly pitching for the extremely backward classes, promising to raise reservation limits. Should this formula deliver results in Bihar, it could reshape national politics. Yet the BJP believes it has a strong shield in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s OBC identity, coupled with the enduring influence of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Nadda’s tenure formally ended in early 2023 but was extended due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and subsequent state polls. If the party defers its internal elections until next year, Nadda will set a record as the longest-serving BJP president without a fresh mandate. The decision on the next national president, along with possible cabinet reshuffles, is expected only after the Bihar results, with new appointments also pending in states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, and Punjab.
