National prez poll after internal elections in major states: BJP

Election to the post of BJP president will be conducted only after internal organisational polls are completed in all major states, the party’s election in-charge, K Laxman, said today.

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Speaking exclusively to The Tribune, Laxman said although the constitutional requirement of electing presidents to half of the party’s organisational units before the national presidential poll could be held was met two days ago, elections in major state units were still pending.

“We are yet to conduct the state presidents’ poll in major states such as Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Gujarat and Delhi. Although we have crossed the benchmark of electing presidents in 50 per cent of the state units, elections for the national president of the BJP will be held once the major states have also completed their organizational polls,” Laxman said.

When asked why it was necessary to wait further when the constitutional threshold for the BJP presidential poll had already been met, Laxman said, “It is politically appropriate for BJP president polls in major states to conclude before the all-India exercise is held.”

He said of the BJP’s 37 organisational units, state presidents had been elected in 26. “Elections in Odisha and Tripura have been postponed. The Odisha unit is busy with the Jagannath Yatra,” Laxman said, adding that two phases of organisational elections were over and a third phase, covering the pending major states, would be held soon.

Laxman declined to provide a specific timeline for the BJP president’s poll, saying, “As soon as possible.” He added, “After completing the third phase of internal polls, we will go for the national presidential poll.”

When questioned about potential candidates for the top post and whether the BJP might consider electing a woman president, Laxman said, “So far, everything is in the realm of speculation. Anything is possible.”