'World's largest party' has a problem of plenty in picking its new president or is it something else?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the country's most powerful political force over the past decade, is now facing a surprisingly delicate internal challenge in selecting its next national president. This might appear to be a routine organisational matter but in reality, it’s a politically loaded decision shaped by shifting electoral equations, internal power dynamics, and the strategic recalibration the party must undertake after the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections.

It seems to be a multi-layered problem for BJP to find its next president. Nadda's successor has not only to be a capable leader, but also someone who fits in a long list of political, ideological, symbolic requirements and most importantly he/she should be trusted by multiple centres.

The centralized nature of the BJP's leadership under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is making the process even more complex. It is very well known how, over the last 10-12 years, the duo has consolidated immense influence over the party’s ideological, electoral, parliamentary and administrative affairs. Then there is a much larger umbrella of 'Parivar' which has organisations like RSS and VHP. Any new president must work within a framework which is ideologically in sync with the Modi-Shah vision, but strong enough to oversee the massive political machine that is the BJP and the deeply rooted cultural machine that is the Sangh Parivar spanning across India’s diverse states. This balance is hard to strike.

Despite the party's claims of being the 'world's largest party,' the pool of potential candidates is surprisingly limited. Even after the extension, the current president J P Nadda’s term ended almost a year ago. Leaders like Bhupender Yadav, Vinod Tawde, and Sunil Bansal are known for their organisational skills, but lack national charisma. There are influential regional leaders like Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath or Assam’s Himanta Biswa Sarma but promoting them as the national president could create problems for the party in their respective states. Their rise could also be perceived as the party leaning toward more assertive right-wing politics at a time when a more liberal and inclusive tone might be a tactful move.

An out of the box idea that is being discussed is having a woman president which will be a first for the party in its history of almost 45 years. If latest reports are to be believed, few names discussed in the meeting of senior party leaders for the post are Nirmala Sitharaman, D Purandeswari, and Vanathi Srinivasan. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman can be an acceptable face and it is being said that RSS is also inclined towards having a woman president of BJP. Having her as chief will align with the party's long-term goals in South India and its longstanding support for 33 per cent women reservation in the Lok Sabha.

The BJP has made visible efforts in recent years to broaden its social base, particularly among OBCs, Dalits, and other non-upper caste groups. The party would like to reflect this outreach in selecting its new president as well. But, the BJP also has a traditional stronghold in the upper-caste segment which also needs to be factored in. The geographical diversity is again a factor where, after a long North Indian dominance, voices from the South and East are getting stronger. Choosing a leader from states like Tamil Nadu or Telangana, where the BJP wants to grow, could be a long-term investment, but may not prove to be a choice accepted by all, which will definitely impact immediate organisational and electoral goals in North.

The saffron party's not so satisfactory performance in 2024 Lok Sabha polls is also a factor leading to the dilemma. Although, it emerged as the single largest party and formed the govt at the Centre, it's not like 2014 or 2019 where the party enjoyed an outright majority. It was a coalition govt both in 2014 and 2019, but this time, there are visible proofs of a coalition—National Democratic Alliance (NDA)—at work at the Centre. Now, regional political power centres like Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar, Shinde, Ajit Pawar, Pawan Kalyan, also have an influential space in country's political decision making. This shift demands a president who can manage not just internal party affairs, but also handle alliance partners with diplomacy and personal relations. In other words, the party needs a skilled coalition-builder who is both effective and measured in communication and outreach, and definitely not a hardline ideologue.

Against this backdrop, the name of former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has gained traction. Chouhan, one of the most senior and experienced leaders in BJP, has goodwill across factions. A four-time CM with a relatively moderate image, he holds valuable electoral experience and is seen as a mass leader. His appeal particularly among OBCs and rural voters also make him stand out among all the contenders. If he is picked for the job, it could signal BJP’s intent to broaden its support base, reset its political tone, and most importantly, bridge the gap between the old guard and the Modi era.

However choosing either Chouhan or Sitharaman comes with its own set of complications. While Chouhan has stature, it is not the same as it was in the 2010s. He was also not the face of the 2023 Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections campaign despite being the incumbent CM. There are considerable doubts regarding whether he would be able to effectively operate under Modi and Shah. Would he enjoy enough autonomy to shape the organisation, or would he merely be a symbolic figure? Sitharaman, meanwhile, does not have mass appeal and is seen as an elite face.

Indeed, both offer a softer, more inclusive image, but lack the forceful administrative control. They may be strong contenders, but either of the two, if picked, won’t resolve all these tensions. Rather it will only underline the complexity of leading a party at a crossroads. These uncertainties make the leadership transition all the more sensitive. Appointment of either of the two will also mean vacancy in at least one very crucial ministry at the Centre as both Finance and Agriculture need someone with great leadership skills and deep understanding of the subject matter.

In conclusion, the BJP’s difficulty in naming a new national president reflects deeper issues within the party’s current structure: centralization of power, the need to manage coalition politics, the balancing act between ideology and inclusivity, and the desire to maintain both electoral viability and organisational discipline.