Further delay in BJP chief’s election? RSS invites Nadda for key meet

The Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha, the Sangh’s highest decision-making body, is set to convene in Channenahalli, Bengaluru, with key leaders, including RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale and heads of all affiliated organisations, including the BJP, in attendance.

The meeting will review the past year’s progress and outline key agendas for the future. Nadda’s participation in such an important gathering has fuelled speculation that his tenure as BJP president might be extended further, delaying the party’s internal leadership transition.

At the same time, the BJP is grappling with the question of whether to replace Nadda just months before the crucial Bihar Assembly elections. Given his deep-rooted connection to the state — having been born, raised and educated there — some within the party believe he should remain at the helm until after the polls. However, others argue that the party should proceed with internal elections and appoint a new leader without further delay.

The delay is also partly procedural. According to the BJP’s constitution, the party must first conclude organisational elections in at least half of its state units before electing a new national president. Originally scheduled for completion by January, these internal elections have been progressing slowly, suggesting that the leadership change is not an immediate priority for the party.

Nadda was born in Patna and educated at St Xavier’s School, Patna College and Patna University, later moved to Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla, where he pursued law and began his political career. Despite being a senior leader from Himachal Pradesh, his strong Bihar roots have made his leadership a focal point in the state’s political landscape.

A senior BJP leader acknowledged the dilemma, stating that while Nadda has overstayed his term, removing him just before the Bihar elections might not be the most strategic move. The party’s recent electoral victories in Delhi, Haryana and Maharashtra have also reduced the urgency to replace him.

Elected as BJP chief in 2020, Nadda was granted a one-year extension ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. With no clear timeline for his successor’s election, the party appears to be in no rush to make a leadership change, at least for now.