Smriti, Anurag, Vinod or Om… who will be the next president of BJP, restoring credibility in UP is a big challenge

New Delhi: After the swearing-in of the Narendra Modi government for the third time, the discussion of the new president of the BJP has started. Speculations have intensified about who will become the president. After the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Jagat Prakash Nadda became the national president of the BJP in January 2020. Nadda’s term as BJP president ended in January 2023. However, in view of the Lok Sabha elections, his/her term was extended till June 2024. After the elections, Nadda has been given a place in the cabinet of the Narendra Modi government. It is believed that under the BJP’s one person one post policy, the party will soon decide its new president. After the recent statements of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, it is believed that now the Sangh will have the last say in the election for the post of president.

Discussion of the names of Vinod, Anurag, Om and Smriti

After Nadda, the names of former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav and former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar were also in discussion for the post of president. But, after the inclusion of these three in the cabinet, their discussions have now come to an end. Now in the race for the post of BJP President, apart from party general secretary Vinod Tawde, BL Santosh, Anurag Thakur, K Laxman, Om Mathur, Sunil Bansal, the name of Smriti Irani is also leading.

This time the Sangh will have its say in the election of BJP president

According to Delhi University professor Rajeev Ranjan Giri, BJP may be a political party, but the Sangh always has the last word in the organisation. Because most of the people who run it are associated with the Sangh. Mohan Bhagwat had recently given a statement that a true servant follows the code of conduct. Only a person who does not have the feeling of ‘I did it’ and does not have any ego is entitled to be called a servant in the true sense. It is believed that this statement of Bhagwat regarding the party leadership is very important. In such a situation, the role of the Sangh is considered very important in the election of the party president in the coming time. BJP is considered to be the political organisation of the RSS, so the Sangh will not want the party’s performance to be poor in the upcoming assembly elections.

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Vinod Tawde is an influential general secretary, associated with the Sangh

Tawde, who has been a minister in the Maharashtra government, is considered the most influential general secretary after BL Santosh. he/she has two decades of organizational experience. he/she has been associated with the Sangh since childhood. Tawde, who started his/her political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, may also be considered because assembly elections are to be held in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand this year.

Laxman’s name is ahead among OBC contenders

After Nadda, the name of BJP OBC Morcha chief K Laxman is also in the news in the race for BJP president. Laxman, who comes from Telangana, is known to be very hardworking and combative. After Andhra Pradesh, among the southern states, BJP is paying the most attention to Telangana.

BJP’s flag hoisted in Odisha under the leadership of Bansal

Sunil Bansal’s name is also included in the race for BJP President, who is currently the General Secretary. Amit Shah’s favourite Bansal is also the in-charge of three states like West Bengal, Telangana and Odisha. Under his/her leadership, BJP performed brilliantly in Odisha and defeated the Naveen Patnaik government.

BL Santosh the behind-the-scenes strategist

BJP’s National General Secretary (Organization) BL Santosh has also been a big propagandist of RSS. BL Santosh got this post in BJP when Ramlal, who was holding this post for 13 years, was removed. BL Santosh is considered an expert in making strategies behind the scenes.

Om Mathur is in charge of Gujarat, PM Modi’s favourite

Om Mathur, Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan and disciple of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, is also in the race to become the national president of BJP. PM Modi’s favourite Mathur is known for speaking his/her mind with a smile on his/her face. Om Mathur has been an active RSS pracharak and has also been in charge of PM Modi’s home state Gujarat.

Anurag Thakur’s experience as youth wing president

The name of Anurag Thakur, MP from Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, is also in discussion for the post of BJP President. Anurag Thakur, five-time MP from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, has not been given a place in the Modi cabinet this time. This also gave rise to discussions about making him/her the national president of the party. Anurag Thakur has worked as the President of Youth BJP. he/she has also been the Joint Secretary of BCCI.

Smriti Irani’s name is also in the race, first woman president possible

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been advocating for women voters in many of his/her rallies. he/she has also acknowledged the role of women in his/her three consecutive victories. At the same time, BJP is also going to plan a comprehensive contact campaign to increase the number of women members in the organization. Anyway, if the Women’s Reservation Act is implemented, then 33 percent seats will be reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. This time Smriti Irani’s name is also being discussed for the post of president. Smriti, a former MP from Amethi, has not got a place in the cabinet this time, so her name is also in the lead for the BJP president. If this happens, she can become the first woman president of BJP.

Organizational elections will be held in the states before the post of president

Before electing its new president, BJP will start a new membership drive and then hold organisational elections in the states. In fact, according to the set rules, before electing a president, it is necessary to hold party organisational elections in at least 50 percent of the states. In such a situation, Nadda’s term will either be extended or a leader can be made the acting president for the time being. BJP has recently amended its constitution and given the party’s top body, the Parliamentary Board, the right to take important decisions including extending the term of the president in an emergency situation.

This is how the president is elected in BJP, this is the process

According to the BJP constitution, the national president is elected by an electoral college of the party. The electoral college consists of members of the national and state councils. Any 20 members of the electoral college of a state can propose a person who has been an active member for at least 4 terms. Also, their membership should be at least 15 years. Any joint proposal should come from at least 5 states where elections for the national council have been completed.

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Making a strong comeback in UP in 2027 is a big challenge

In the general elections, BJP has missed the majority due to average performance in many states including UP, Rajasthan, Bihar, Haryana, West Bengal. The new president of the party will have to strengthen the organization in such states. Apart from this, assembly elections are to be held in Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Haryana this year. Elections are also to be held in Delhi early next year. At the same time, assembly elections are to be held in UP in 2027.

Ignoring RSS’s advice proved costly in UP

Rajiv Giri says that the role of the RSS has always been behind the party’s booth level management. But, due to the distance from the RSS, the party has failed in many places in bringing its supporting voters to the booth in this general election. Especially in Uttar Pradesh, where the BJP was able to get only 33 seats in this Lok Sabha election. It is believed that the BJP had ignored the advice of the RSS in the selection of candidates, due to which it has suffered this setback.