Nitin Nabin's Appointment as BJP Working President: What It Means for JP Nadda

The recent appointment of Nitin Nabin as the BJP's national working president has raised questions about the future of JP Nadda's leadership. While some reports suggest a leadership change, party officials clarify that Nadda remains in his position. This article delves into the implications of Nabin's role, the historical context of such transitions within the BJP, and what this means for the party's future leadership dynamics. As the BJP prepares for upcoming elections, understanding these changes is crucial for followers and political analysts alike.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 16, 2025, 15:56 IST

BJP Leadership Transition: Nitin Nabin Takes the Helm

S Gopal Puri
DHARAMSHALA:
The Bharatiya Janata Party's recent decision to appoint Nitin Nabin as the national working president has ignited discussions regarding potential changes in leadership. However, it has been confirmed that Himachal Pradesh leader Jagat Prakash Nadda has not been replaced as the party's national president.

The selection of 45-year-old Nitin Nabin, a minister from Bihar, has led to some confusion, with certain reports suggesting that Nadda has been 'removed' from his position. Party officials, however, clarify that this interpretation is inaccurate. Nadda remains the national president, and Nabin's appointment is part of a standard organizational transition.

Senior journalist Sanjeev Sharma aptly noted, 'Describing this as Nadda's exit is misleading. This is a managed transition that the BJP has implemented before. The working president role is preparatory, not a replacement.'

Clarifying the Situation: No Removal, Just Transition

Despite some claims of 'Nadda ki adhyaksh pad se chhutti (removed from post)', BJP leaders emphasize that Nadda has not been ousted. His original term as party president was set to conclude in 2024, and he has continued in his role through a service extension, a strategy the party employs to maintain continuity before organizational elections.

Nitin Nabin's role as national working president is to assist Nadda. Once Nadda is officially relieved, Nabin is anticipated to succeed him as the next BJP chief. Insiders indicate that this mirrors a previous transition model rather than indicating a sudden leadership shift.

Interestingly, the BJP constitution does not specifically mention the position of 'working president'. However, since 2019, this role has effectively become a stepping stone to the top position.

Historical Context: A Familiar Precedent

This current arrangement is reminiscent of events from six years ago. In June 2019, JP Nadda was appointed as the BJP working president after Amit Shah assumed the role of Union Home Minister. Nadda held this position for nearly six months before being unanimously elected as the full-time national president in January 2020.

At that time, Shah had not been 'removed'; he had completed two full terms as BJP president, and the party's constitution prohibits a third consecutive term. Consequently, a new president was selected. Unlike Shah, Nadda was later granted a service extension instead of being re-elected for a second term.

BJP leaders assert that the working president arrangement is temporary, designed to prepare a successor and ensure organizational stability.

Additionally, the timing of this appointment has both religious and logistical significance. The Khar Maas, a month deemed inauspicious in the Hindu calendar, begins on Monday. This timing explains why Nabin's appointment was announced on Sunday (December 14, 2025). Following the conclusion of this period on January 14 with Makar Sankranti, the formal process to elect the new BJP president is expected to commence.

The party has already conducted organizational elections in 30 out of its 37 states and Union Territories, surpassing the halfway mark necessary to initiate the national presidential election. BJP leaders anticipate that this process could take around four days and may wrap up shortly after mid-January.

While a formal election will take place, Nabin's promotion is widely regarded as a foregone conclusion, given the BJP and RSS's tradition of consensus-driven leadership selection.

Introducing Nitin Nabin

Nitin Nabin serves as the Road Construction Minister of Bihar and is a five-time MLA representing Bankipur in Patna. He entered the Bihar Assembly at the young age of 26 following the passing of his father, BJP veteran Navin Kishore Sinha. Should he take on the role of BJP president, Nabin will be the first chief from Bihar and eastern India, as well as the youngest president in the party's history, surpassing Nitin Gadkari, who assumed the position at 52.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commended Nabin as a 'dedicated karyakarta with extensive organizational experience', expressing confidence that his vigor and humility will bolster the party. Nabin has also held responsibilities as BJP in-charge for Chhattisgarh and Sikkim, further enhancing his organizational credentials.