Buzz on ‘Modi’s First’ Stamp on BJP President ‘Election’
PM Narendra Modi and a BJP meeting underway at HQ (Image credit PMO, BJP)
Modi’s First Major Stamp on BJP President Pick: What It Means for the Party’s Future
By Amit Kumar
New Delhi, March 27: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) credits Prime Minister Narendra Modi for many “firsts”. Sources said that “another first is on anvil in picking up new BJP president”.
“PM Modi outthinks experts in his choices. In his leadership, India got the first tribal in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. There are many such decisions,” said a highly placed source.
The consultations for picking up the new BJP president have now reached a final stage. Modi will speak to the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on the subject of the new BJP president, the source revealed.
“The RSS nod is only awaited. The new BJP president will be aligned with the RSS agenda as stated at the three-day-long conclave at the Bengaluru,” said a senior BJP functionary.
The highly placed source asserted that the “BJP is yet to have a woman as the president of the party”. “PM Modi wants to leave a lasting legacy. He helped in the passage of the Women Reservation Bill in legislature. He may greenlight a woman president for the BJP,” said the source.
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is currently the vice president of the BJP. The BJP national office bearers have very few women functionaries. “Recently, PM Modi’s thoughts gave Delhi a woman CM, and also a first for the BJP-ruled states. We shouldn’t be surprised that a woman gets a go-ahead to lead the BJP,” said the BJP functionary.
On probable, the highly placed source speculated on the possibility of Union Minister for Finance Nirmala Sitharaman becoming the next BJP president. “Sitharaman passes two key tests – loyalty to PM Modi and a southern face,” added the source.
Sitharaman was a BJP spokesperson before she entered the Union Cabinet. After late Indira Gandhi, Sitharaman is the only second woman to be Defence Minister. She is now also a longest-serving Finance Minister.
“Mission South is now at the centre stage of the BJP. Tamil Nadu Assembly elections next year will test the BJP’s growth trajectory in the state. Sitharaman has been effectively combating the DMK in Tamil Nadu,” explained the source while counting reasons why the Finance Minister could be the next BJP president. Venkaiah Naidu was the last BJP president who came from a southern state. Naidu was the BJP president during 2003-04.
“The RSS also hinted at its Bengaluru conclave that Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and other southern states will be the focus areas of the organisation. With Sitharaman as the BJP president, the RSS agenda will also be aligned,” said the source.
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