Yadav, Khattar, Chouhan in the race
The stage is set for a much-delayed election of the BJP’s national president, with the party concluding internal processes required by its constitution on Tuesday to make the high-stakes appointment.
New chiefs are now in place in nearly 20 of the BJP’s 37 organisational units, with internal elections in seven states conducted between Monday and Tuesday and those in 13 units concluded earlier. This intensive internal election drive signals the party’s intent to hold the national president’s election at the earliest.
Among the lead contenders for the top post are Union Environment and Wildlife Minister Bhupender Yadav (56), Union Urban Affairs and Power Minister ML Khattar (71), and Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan (66).
The Tribune has learned that an agreement has been reached between the RSS and the BJP on replacing incumbent party president JP Nadda. Sangh sources indicate that the RSS has this time insisted on a candidate deeply rooted in the organisation and aligned with its ideology.
An RSS insider stated, “It has to be someone who has a deep understanding of both the RSS and the BJP and can act independently in the larger interest of the ideological saffron brotherhood.”
Bhupender Yadav may fit the bill best, having begun his political journey in the RSS student wing ABVP and served in its legal outreach wing, the Adhivakta Parishad, for years. A source tracking the developments noted, “Yadav has age on his side, is a minister, possesses vast organisational experience in both the RSS and the BJP and is close to both power centres, the RSS and PM Narendra Modi-Amit Shah.” While Khattar and Chouhan remain in contention, sources suggest the consensus may favour Yadav.
Yadav oversaw the BJP’s campaigns in the 2020 Bihar Assembly elections, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections, the 2023 Madhya Pradesh elections, and the 2024 Maharashtra elections, all of which yielded strong results for the party. However, some sections believe a surprise candidate cannot be ruled out.
The Tribune
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