BJP holds meet to discuss organisational reshuffle; Presidential polls after April 20

The election process for choosing the national president of the BJP is likely to begin after April 20 and at the same time, the party presidents of states like Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and two-three other states will be announced in the coming few days.

In this regard, an important meeting of the top BJP leadership took place in Delhi on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence. The meeting was attended by Union home minister Amit Shah, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president and Union health minister JP Nadda and BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh. Sources tell ET that the meeting largely centered around the organisational reshuffle and election for the new national party president. The current president JP Nadda took the charge in January 2020 and his term was extended till June 2024 to oversee the Lok Sabha elections. The election for the president was to be completed by February 2025, but was delayed due to state elections, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Delhi. Nadda, a Union minister, continues to be the party president till the election of the new president. The BJP has already kickstarted the process of electing state presidents with the exercise already completed in several states. However, some bigger states like UP, MP, Karnataka and West Bengal are yet to get a new party president.

Sources tell ET that decisions on the state presidents of these states have been taken in the meeting and the names are likely to be announced in the coming few days. As West Bengal is headed for assembly elections next year, the BJP is looking at a new state president and a new team of leadership to take charge much ahead of the crucial polls. Post April 20, the party will announce the election schedule for the national president which includes nomination date, election date if needed and then announcement of the new party president.

Sources also tell ET that the party is looking for a young organisational structure and this could lead to ouster of some current general secretaries being replaced by young faces, keeping in mind the future prospects of the party.