Nitin Nabin Likely to Become BJP Chief | How BJP Chooses Its President

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally set in motion the process to elect its next national president, signalling a key transition in leadership at the top of the country’s largest political organisation.

In an official notification issued on Friday (January 16), the party announced that nominations for the post will be accepted on Monday, with the possibility of voting on Tuesday if more than one candidate enters the race. The schedule outlines a tightly coordinated process, indicating that the leadership change is likely to be swift and orderly.

According to the notification, nomination papers may be filed between 2 pm and 4 pm on Monday. This will be followed by scrutiny of documents from 4 pm to 5 pm. Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nominations between 5 pm and 6 pm. If the contest remains uncontested, the result will be declared the same day; otherwise, elections will be held on Tuesday.

Reports say, Bihar Minister and five-term MLA Nitin Nabin, who was appointed as the BJP’s working national president on December 14, is widely expected to be elected unopposed. Party leaders have drawn parallels with the transition that brought JP Nadda to the top post—he too served as working president in 2019 before being formally elected as national president in January 2020.

The notification was issued by the party’s national returning officer and Rajya Sabha MP, K Laxman. It also stated that the party’s electoral rolls will be published at noon, and the enrolment process for candidates will commence on January 19.

How the BJP Elects Its President

The election of the BJP’s national president is governed by Article 19 of the party’s constitution and is conducted through an electoral college comprising members of the National Council and State Councils. The entire process is overseen in accordance with rules framed by the party’s National Executive.

To be eligible, a nominee must be jointly proposed by at least 20 members of the electoral college. The candidate must also be an active member of the party for a minimum of four terms and have completed at least 15 years of overall party membership. If only one valid nomination is received, the candidate is declared elected unopposed and no voting takes place.

The BJP National Council consists of members elected by state councils, along with 10 per cent of the party’s Members of Parliament chosen by BJP MPs, subject to a minimum of 10. If the number falls below this threshold, all BJP MPs are automatically included. The council also comprises former national presidents, state unit chiefs, parliamentary party leaders in both Houses, and leaders of the party in state legislatures.

At the state level, councils are formed through a mix of district-level representatives, 10 per cent of state legislators, and 10 per cent of MPs from the state. They also include all National Council members from the state, former state presidents, members of the state executive, leaders in state legislatures, and nominated members, capped at 25, appointed by the state president or authorised leaders.

ALSO READ: BJP to Launch Statewide Wall Writing Campaign from January 5; CM Sarma to Inaugurate