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What is left for the BJP now is to make the announcement of its next national president. And it could come any day, added sources
The decision is being treated with the strategic importance of a chess move, not just filling a vacancy but defining the next phase of party leadership in sync with Sangh’s centenary vision and the Modi era’s eventual transition to its next political leap, said a source. File images/PTI
The race for the next Bharatiya Janata Party national president has finally taken a decisive yet silent turn. Sources in the party confirm that all communication and suggestions from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) regarding the post have now concluded.
The organisational leadership went through a series of rigorous meetings in different phases and at multiple levels. What is left for the BJP now is to make the announcement. And it could come any day, added the sources.
What Are The Parameters?
Even though the RSS maintains that it has not sent any specific name for consideration, top BJP functionaries concede that Sangh’s “approval” has become an unwritten necessity. The Sangh has instead provided clear criteria, and they are telling.
At the heart of these parameters, there are certain issues based on which the Sangh sent its recommendations. The next national president must be an inclusive, accessible, grassroots organiser, and should not be younger than a sexagenarian.
“The special emphasis on accessibility is significant. After a decade of centralised leadership styles, the Sangh is keen on a leader who can bridge the grassroots and the high command, who can ensure the participation of all organisations and karyakartas (workers), someone who is seen as open to feedback—both from within the cadre and beyond,” said a source in the RSS.
Political-Electoral-Organisational Matrix
According to senior leaders, who have been a part of the process, the delay in announcement is not just about finalising a name. “It is about fitting that name into a broader political matrix, aligned to the BJP’s longer game—the 2029 general elections,” said a senior BJP leader.
“The decision is being treated with the strategic importance of a chess move, not just filling a vacancy but defining the next phase of party leadership in sync with Sangh’s centenary vision and the Modi era’s eventual transition to its next political leap. Multiple factors are in play. People often tend to speculate about caste consensus, or some region-specific move, and so on. But those are not the correct assessments of the situation,” he added.
In fact, several other changes are also expected at the organisational level in the coming months, making this appointment even more crucial. With PM Narendra Modi having secured a third term but without a full majority, the importance of party machinery and the person leading it has grown exponentially now.
Sangh insiders clarified that they are not interested in micromanaging BJP affairs. Yet, by setting the age bar and underlining the need for inclusivity, the Sangh has made its priorities known, which include a generational shift, a softer connect, and a course correction after the setbacks in several key states.
In essence, the Sangh is now shaping the tone without dictating the script. It is a power play through principles, not personalities. But those principles will surely determine who ascends and who is ruled out. The announcement is imminent. And, the battlelines and benchmarks have already been drawn.
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa…Read More
Madhuparna Das, Associate Editor (policy) at CNN News 18, has been in journalism for nearly 14 years. She has extensively been covering politics, policy, crime and internal security issues. She has covered Naxa… Read More
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