NEW DELHI: As the Bharatiya Janata Party prepares for an overhaul of its national organisation, discussions within party circles have intensified over whether a section of senior leaders from Madhya Pradesh could see a renewed role in the central structure.
The internal churn follows signals that a reconstituted national team may seek to balance generational transition with experienced leadership as the party looks ahead to the 2028 assembly polls and 2029 general election cycle.
Party insiders indicate that representation from electorally significant states such as Madhya Pradesh will play an important role in the upcoming restructuring exercise. Among the names under discussion is former state home minister Narottam Mishra, who lost the 2023 Assembly election and has since remained outside the central periphery. Once among the most visible voices of the party in the state, his absence from both government and national organisation has led to speculation that he could be considered for a communication or organisational role at the central level.
Senior tribal leader Faggan Singh Kulaste, 72, who previously served as Union Minister of State but is not part of the current Union Council of Ministers, is also viewed by some within the party as a potential candidate if the leadership decides to strengthen tribal outreach at the national level. His parliamentary experience and ministerial background are seen as organisational assets in outreach efforts among tribal communities.
Kailash Vijayvargiya, 69, who earlier served as BJP national general secretary and played a key role in managing elections in several states especially in West Bengal, is currently a minister in the Madhya Pradesh government. While he continues to hold political relevance, his influence within the national and state organisational structure has reduced compared to his earlier tenure. Party sources indicated that controversies associated with him in recent years and the political manoeuvring by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav could weigh against his prospects if the leadership prioritises a shift in organisational messaging.
A senior party functionary said the leadership under BJP national president Nitin Nabin is expected to weigh both experience and generational transition while finalising the new team.
“Leaders like Mishra and Vijayvargiya and others continue to contribute and remain active, but there is also a clear emphasis on bringing in new names and younger faces as part of the next organisational phase,” the functionary said.
It is understood that few leaders who approached the top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, were politely directed to coordinate with Nabin, a move seen as reinforcing his authority over organisational appointments and signalling that attempts to bypass the formal chain of command may not yield results.
In response, several aspirants have stepped up efforts to remain visible and politically relevant through organisational activity and public outreach, including organising religious gatherings, ideological events and cadre mobilisation programmes. Other leaders from the state, including sitting Members of Parliament and organisational office bearers, remain active but are not currently positioned within the top tier of the national command structure.
