Delay in BJP Presidential Election Expected Until August

BJP Presidential Election Timeline

The election for the new president of the BJP may be postponed until the end of July or the first week of August. Several major states have yet to complete their organizational elections, and there is no consensus between the party and the RSS on a candidate for the top position. According to the BJP's constitution, at least half of the states must finalize their election processes to elect a state unit president. Currently, states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana have not completed this process. Once this is done, the party will select its national president in consultation with the RSS.

Current Leadership Situation

High-ranking sources within the BJP have indicated that this entire process is likely to take more time, meaning the current president, JP Nadda, will remain in his position until late July or early August. A party official mentioned, "The BJP will contest the Bihar elections, scheduled for October-November, under the leadership of the new president." However, the delay is not solely due to procedural issues; a lack of consensus on a candidate between the BJP and the RSS is a more significant factor. Historically, BJP presidents have been elected in a short timeframe, as seen with Amit Shah in 2014-15 and Nadda in 2019-20.

Challenges in State Unit Elections

Indeed, both Shah and Nadda were initially appointed as presidents, with their selections later confirmed by state units. This time, the election of state unit presidents is proving to be complex, as the party is considering various internal dynamics, including regional and caste factors. In Uttar Pradesh, the next state unit leader may come from the OBC community. In Madhya Pradesh, where the chief minister belongs to a backward caste, the state unit head is likely to be from a higher caste.