Next BJP President: The NDA government has been formed for the third time in the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, on Monday (10 June), the Prime Minister distributed portfolios to the cabinet ministers. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President JP Nadda has been given the responsibility of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare as well as the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers in the Modi 3.0 cabinet. In such a situation, it is now clear that BJP is going to get a new national president.
The political decisions of the Bharatiya Janata Party have often proved to be prophetic. Especially in December 2023, when it came to appointing Chief Ministers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan, everyone was surprised by the decision of the BJP. Because of this, it is difficult to assess who the party will appoint as the new national president, but still there are many names which are being discussed in the political circles for the post of party president.
Anurag Thakur in the race for BJP president
Before taking oath as a minister (9 June 2024), there was a discussion that BJP could make Manohar Lal Khattar or Shivraj Singh Chauhan its next national president, but with the inclusion of these two leaders in the Modi cabinet, all the claims came to an end. In such a situation, the first name that is coming up for the BJP president is that of Anurag Thakur, MP from Hamirpur. Anurag Thakur, five-time MP from Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, has not been given a place in the Modi cabinet this time. This also strengthens the claims of him being made the national president of the party.
Talking about Anurag Thakur’s experience within the party, he has worked as the President of Youth BJP. Anurag Thakur became the first Bharatiya Janata Party MP to be awarded the Sansad Ratna Award in January 2019. Apart from this, Anurag has worked as President of Himachal Pradesh Rifle Association, General Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association, Executive Member of Indian Olympic Association, General Secretary of Himachal Pradesh Olympic Association. Anurag Thakur has also been the Joint Secretary of BCCI. In May 2016, he was elected as the President of BCCI.
He himself has said that he will continue to work hard as a party worker to support PM Modi’s developed India vision. Apart from this, BJP is talking about giving preference to young leaders, in such a situation Anurag Thakur can be a better option for them. If BJP chooses Anurag Thakur as the national president, then it will mean that two leaders from Himachal Pradesh (the other being JP Nadda) have been given top positions.
Because of this Vinod Tawde’s claim is strong
Another name that is being discussed for the post of BJP’s national president is Vinod Tawde. Tawde, who hails from Maharashtra, has been a minister at the state level. Vinod Tawde comes from the OBC community and is currently the general secretary in charge of Bihar. In this Lok Sabha election, the party had entrusted him with many responsibilities, the result of which was that BJP was able to perform well in Bihar. In this Lok Sabha election, the leaders of the All India Alliance had accused the BJP of being anti-OBC, the brunt of which was mostly seen in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
There is also assembly election in Maharashtra this year. In such a situation, the party can try to bring back its scattered vote bank by making an OBC national president. He belongs to the background of Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Vinod Tawde also belongs to the Maratha community. In the last few years, Maharashtra has been turbulent due to the Maratha movement. Protests were held against the central and state government at many places. In such a situation, Vinod Tawde can prove to be a trump card here. Tawde has also promoted the schemes of the Modi government a lot in the last few days. Vinod Tawde was the first leader who demanded a separate budget for agriculture in the Maharashtra Assembly.
Sunil Bansal, close to Amit Shah, is also in the race
Another name that is currently in the center of discussion for the BJP’s national president is Sunil Bansal. Currently, Sunil Bansal is the BJP’s national general secretary. He is considered close to Home Minister Amit Shah. Sunil Bansal has been a former pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Politically, he has proved himself many times.
in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections Amit ShahHe was made the in-charge of Uttar Pradesh by BJP. At that time Sunil Bansal was made the co-in-charge of UP. BJP had performed tremendously in that election. After this, he was appointed the chief in-charge of the state in the 2017 UP assembly elections and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. BJP had a record-breaking performance in both these elections.
After giving immense success to BJP in Uttar Pradesh, the party entrusted him with the task of increasing the party’s reach in Odisha and the southern state of Telangana, which he successfully accomplished. This time BJP was successful in forming the government in Odisha for the first time, while in the assembly elections held in Telangana last year, an increase in the vote share of BJP was recorded. Apart from this Lok Sabha Elections During this period, Sunil Bansal along with party workers has prepared many ground level plans for the party by keeping an eye on call centres across the country.
BL Santosh- has been a big propagandist of RSS
BL Santosh is currently the General Secretary (Organization) of BJP. He has also been a big campaigner of RSS. Some people believe that BL Santosh can be a better choice as the National President of BJP, but it can be very challenging for him to get this post. This is because a large section of the state BJP blames BL Santosh for the defeat BJP had to face in the Karnataka Assembly elections in 2023.
BL Santosh got the post of National General Secretary (Organization) in BJP when Ramlal, who was holding this post for 13 years, was removed. BL Santosh is considered an expert in making strategies behind the scenes. His differences with BS Yeddyurappa have come to the fore many times in Karnataka.
PM Modi’s close aide Om Mathur is also in the race
Another contender in the race for BJP’s national president is Om Prakash Mathur from Rajasthan. His political stature can be gauged from the fact that he is considered the left hand of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the assembly elections held in Chhattisgarh, the party had sent him as the state in-charge. In that election, BJP formed the government with a majority. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, Om Mathur, along with Sunil Bansal, wrote the script for BJP’s victory in the state. It is said that when Narendra Modi Ever since he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, he has been an admirer of Om Mathur’s organisational work.
K Laxman’s name is also in the race for BJP president
Former BJP president of the southern state of Telangana, K Laxman, is also in the race for the party’s national president. Currently, he is the head of the BJP’s OBC front, so by making him the national president, the BJP can woo the OBC vote bank in the southern states. This time, the BJP is a partner in the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, so now the party will also have its eyes on Telangana.
K Laxman is known for being able to campaign for the party both quietly and aggressively. However, he is not known outside Telangana, which works against his potential candidature.
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