BJP gears up to appoint new chief, six new state presidents declared

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is gearing up to appoint its new national president within the next few weeks. Over the past two days, the party cleared the names of six new state presidents, paving the way for the selection of a successor to J.P. Nadda, whose extended term has already concluded.

As per party rules, elections must be held in at least half of its state units before a new national president can be elected. The party crossed that threshold this week. 

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There are 36 state party units. After a few more elections in the state units, the BJP will announce the schedule for the national president poll.

In the latest round of appointments, Maharashtra is set to get Ravindra Chavan as its new state president, following his earlier role as working president. In Uttarakhand, the incumbent Mahendra Bhatt will continue for another term.

In Andhra Pradesh, PVN Madhav—an OBC leader with deep organisational roots—has replaced D. Purandeswari as the party’s state president. Telangana too has a new chief—Ramchander Rao—who rose from student politics and will now replace Union Coal and Mines Minister G. Kishan Reddy, appointed to the role in July 2023.

In the Union Territory of Puducherry, V.P. Ramalingam has been named the state chief, while Mizoram will now be led by K. Beichhua.

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More appointments are expected in key states such as Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and West Bengal in the coming days.

According to sources, the focus has been balancing caste and community equations in the state units, apart from an emphasis on organisational experience.

The election of the new BJP national president has been pending for several months. The incumbent J.P. Nadda has continued on an extended term, amid speculation that differences between the party and the RSS may have contributed to the delay.

However, party sources indicate that consultations with the Sangh have already taken place—clearing the path for a consensus-based selection, in line with recent tradition.

The incoming president will face a challenging term—overseeing crucial state elections in Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.

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They will also have to steer the party through key structural transitions, including the upcoming delimitation exercise and the implementation of women’s reservation after the next census.

This national appointment could also trigger a reshuffle in the Union Cabinet, with several organisational leaders likely to be rewarded with ministerial roles.

As the BJP sets its sights on the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, the party is expected to usher in a new generation of leaders—equipped with both strategic depth and grassroots experience—to take its legacy forward.

India