Nadda takes up BJP reins

| | New Delhi
  • 0

Nadda takes up BJP reins

Tuesday, 21 January 2020 | Deepak K Upreti | New Delhi

Nadda takes up BJP reins

New chief’s first task is to galvanise party in Delhi polls next month

BJP working president Jagat Prakash Nadda on Monday  took over the reins of the party from Amit Shah and is faced with several tough electoral and organisational challenges in the days ahead.

Nadda’s first task will be to  galvanise the party to take on Kejriwal-led AAP Government in the next month’s Delhi Assembly polls. The AAP is seen as a clear favourite and Nadda would require all his skills to make it an even contest. His other challenges are Assembly elections of Bihar,  West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, all scheduled within one year or so.

The reverses faced by the party in Jharkhand and loss of power in a big State, like Maharashtra, have made Nadda’s task all the more difficult. Nadda would be required to revamp party organisation in several States and also step up the BJP’s pro-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) campaign across the country.

Enjoying the confidence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah, the new head of the BJP is largely expected to continue with the course it took under Shah with Modi laying out the broader agenda.

Considered an affable and accessible politician, Nadda strikes good rapport with all top party leaders and is seen as seasoned organisation man.  Nadda, with parental roots in Bihar, was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from his college days before joining the youth wing of the BJP and rising through its ranks.

Nadda has also served as a Minister in the BJP Governments in Himachal Pradesh, his home State, and at the Centre. He has also been in charge of his party’s campaigns in a number of States, including in Uttar Pradesh, during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

 

Nadda was unanimously elected as BJP president in party headquarters here at a function in the presence of  Shah and all top Central  leaders, Ministers and Chief Ministers of the BJP-ruled States. The PM, who later joined party leaders in felicitating Nadda, said he is sure that the party will scale newer heights during his presidency.

The PM also praised Shah for his contribution, describing him as “an outstanding karyakarta (worker)”

“I do not think words can do justice to the rich contribution of Shah as the BJP president. During his presidency, the BJP got opportunities to serve in several parts of India,” Modi said in a series of tweets.

Wishing Nadda very best for his tenure, the PM said, “Nadda is a dedicated and disciplined karyakarta who has worked for years to strengthen the party at the grassroots. His affable nature is also known to all.”

“Be it as a young party karyakarta, MLA, Minister in Himachal Pradesh or organisational duties at the Centre, MP and Union Minister, Nadda has added value to any responsibility he has held,” Modi added. 

 BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who was the in-charge of the organisational election process, made the announcement of Nadda’s election as the party’s 11th president after he emerged as the only nominee in the fray.

 Modi later arrived at the party headquarters to felicitate the elected president at a ceremony that was attended by members of the BJP Parliamentary Board, its highest body, and veterans like LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi.

Earlier, Shah was joined by senior party leaders, including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari, besides several functionaries from State units in filing nominations in support of Nadda.

BJP Chief Ministers, like Yogi Adityanath of Uttar Pradesh and Vijay Rupani of Gujarat, were also at the party headquarters.  Nadda’s elevation was on expected lines since his appointment as the BJP working president last June after Shah joined the Modi Government as the Home Minister. The BJP has traditionally abided by the norm of ‘one party one post’.

 BJP leaders hailed the appointment, expressing confidence that the party would achieve new successes under his leadership.

 Shah congratulated Nadda and expressed confidence that under the new BJP president and the guidance of Modi, the party will scale new heights of success and grow from strength to strength. Wishing Nadda a successful tenure, Rajnath Singh said, “I am confident the party will achieve new glory and success under his leadership. Known for his organisational experience Naddaji has always been an asset to the party.”

 Gadkari said the elevation of Nadda, who started as a common party worker and rose through its ranks, shows that the BJP was an organisation of workers unlike parties run by dynasties. 

Sunday Edition

CAA PASSPORT TO FREEDOM

24 March 2024 | Kumar Chellappan | Agenda

CHENNAI EXPRESS IN GURUGRAM

24 March 2024 | Pawan Soni | Agenda

The Way of Bengal

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

The Pizza Philosopher

24 March 2024 | Shobori Ganguli | Agenda

Astroturf | Lord Shiva calls for all-inclusiveness

24 March 2024 | Bharat Bhushan Padmadeo | Agenda

Interconnected narrative l Forest conservation l Agriculture l Food security

24 March 2024 | BKP Sinha/ Arvind K jha | Agenda