The BJP is likely to have a new president before the Bihar assembly elections are announced. Several factors contribute to the delay in selecting the new national president. A major reason is the comprehensive consultation undertaken by the RSS on the new president’s appointment. According to sources, with the monsoon session of Parliament completed, the process for electing the new national president will be accelerated. The RSS has engaged in a detailed opinion-gathering process to aid in choosing the BJP’s new national president.
The BJP is an affiliate of the RSS. The RSS has a significant role in the selection of the head of the BJP, similar to its involvement in other affiliated organizations. The RSS has contacted about 88 senior leaders to solicit their suggestions for the new national president, seeking their preferences for the position.
Sources reveal that former BJP presidents, senior central ministers, and leaders associated with the RSS and BJP, who have held constitutional roles, have been consulted, and their input has been considered.
* The Sangh has personally met these 88 senior leaders to gather their recommendations for the new BJP president.
* Sources say that while some senior leaders proposed names, others stated they would agree with the ultimate choice.
* A former national president of the BJP, who currently holds the second-highest constitutional position, suggested a Union minister who has also served as a Chief Minister.
* A former national president, closely associated with the Sangh and currently a Union Minister, has clearly communicated to the RSS that he has not and will not offer any suggestions, as the Sangh’s opinion is his final word.
* A Union Minister, who is also a former Chief Minister, cited his age, expressing he is not ready to take on the party presidency, but would be open to it if there was consensus.
* A Union Minister, also a former state president from a South Indian state, stated he does not feel capable of taking on the responsibility.
* A common suggestion from the Sangh’s consultation was that the new national president should be approximately 60 years old.
### National President Election Forthcoming
The Vice-Presidential election is scheduled for September 9. The BJP is currently focused on ensuring the NDA candidate receives the maximum number of votes. It’s reported that state president elections in crucial states like UP, Karnataka, and Gujarat could be held soon. After these elections, the national president will be elected.
The extensive consultation process for the new national president was similar to the process used for the state and district presidents. The BJP aimed for consensus to ensure a strong organization. Similarly, the BJP decided to provide opportunities for young people in the election of mandal presidents, striving for new mandal presidents to be under forty years old.
Consequently, the BJP gave opportunities to youth in most of the approximately 15,000 mandals across the country. Furthermore, in the elections for district and state presidents, the party ensured that the candidates had been active BJP members for at least ten years. This was based on recent experiences, as the BJP observed discontent among workers when leaders from other parties were given important positions within the organization. There were, however, some exceptions.