Nitin Nabin
Credit: PTI
New Delhi: As he takes over the reins of the Bharatiya Janata Party, becoming its youngest face, Nitin Nabin’s tenure marks a generational shift within the party.
In the coming days, a reconstitution of the national team is expected, as well as a meeting of the National Council to ratify the election.
A day after he was appointed, on Wednesday, Nabin held a meeting of the party’s office-bearers and heads of its various wings, as well as state presidents and former state presidents.
Key among the discussions was the election strategy in the five poll-going states, in addition to a strategy on amplifying the VB G RAM G Bill.
Just hours after he took charge, Nabin also made a series of organisational appointments, naming party general secretary Vinod Tawde as the election in-charge of the Kerala assembly elections, and Ram Madhav as the in-charge of the Greater Bengaluru civic elections.
Shobha Karandlaje will assist Tawde in Kerala, while Madhav will have as co-incharges Satish Poonia and Sanjay Upadhyay. Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar has been named the election in-charge of Telangana civic polls, and he will have as co-incharges, Ashok Parnani and Rekha Sharma.
Nabin’s appointment, leaders say, is part of a move by the party to reach out to younger generations of voters, as it is keen to make itself a viable choice for younger voters. “The leadership’s choice of Nabin is to send a message that any dedicated organisational worker can rise in the ranks,” a senior party leader said.
With every president, a new team of office-bearers is constituted. Nabin’s team is expected to have several younger faces, the leader added. Nabin, sources said, is keen on a fine balance.
With Nabin’s elevation, there is also sustained speculation that a reshuffle in the Modi Cabinet is on the cards. Some new faces are expected and some old names might either have a change in roles or are dropped entirely. A meeting of the National Council is expected in the next few weeks to ratify the election.