New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party is nearing the conclusion of its organisational elections. According to party sources, elections at the district and block levels are expected to be completed by 5 January in all states except for those that just held Assembly elections—Jharkhand, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jammu & Kashmir. Following this, elections for state presidents are planned to be concluded by 15 January.
Party insiders suggest that once the process of electing state presidents is completed in most states, the election for the BJP’s national president will likely be wrapped up by 30 January. This means the party is set to have a new national president by the last week of January.
While several names are under consideration for the top post, there is growing momentum to appoint a national president from the southern region or from the backward communities. This likely move is influenced by the Congress’ focus on Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the Constitution, which has prompted the BJP to strategize accordingly.
During the winter session of Parliament, the Congress heavily emphasised on issues related to Baba Ambedkar, which put the BJP on high alert. Even after the session ended, the BJP continued to target the Congress on these issues, with coordinated press conferences by BJP Chief Ministers across the country.
In response, the Congress escalated its campaign, attacking the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. On 26 December, at the Congress Working Committee meeting in Belagavi, Karnataka, the party announced a nationwide movement focusing on the Constitution and Dr Ambedkar. This campaign, set to begin on 26 January, will last for a year, with Rahul Gandhi leading a “Save the Constitution” march as part of the initiative.
BJP strategists are wary of the potential impact of this campaign. They recall that during the Lok Sabha elections, issues surrounding the Constitution and reservation caused setbacks in certain constituencies. However, the BJP also sees an opportunity to counter the Congress by highlighting instances of the party’s neglect of Ambedkar in the past.
In light of these developments, the BJP is seriously considering appointing a leader from a backward class, preferably from the southern states, as its next national president. This move is aimed at countering the Congress’ caste-based politics and strengthening the party’s position among backward communities.
The BJP has also taken steps to ensure inclusivity in its organisational structure. At the mandal level, leadership roles have been offered to individuals aged between 35 and 45 years of age, while district president positions have been capped at 60 years. This indicates the party’s effort to prepare a younger leadership team, while maintaining representation from all sections of society.
As the party navigates these crucial decisions, it remains focused on addressing challenges posed by the Opposition and leveraging its organisational strength to consolidate its base.