BJP Set to Name New President by Mid-March, Women Front Runners

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to announce its new national president by mid-March, specifically around the 15th or 16th, following the conclusion of organizational elections in over 13 states. Party sources suggest that the decision on JP Nadda’s successor will be made through internal consensus.

### Potential Candidates

A senior functionary hinted that the party aims to appoint a woman to this top post, most likely from South India, to send a strong organizational message to the people of the Southern states. Andhra BJP chief Daggubati Purandeshwari and BJP Mahila Morcha national president and Coimbatore MLA Vanathi Srinivasan are among the frontrunners if a woman from the South is chosen for the position.

### Daggubati Purandeshwari

Daggubati Purandeshwari, aged about 66, joined the BJP in 2014 after leaving Congress, bringing her significant experience in organizational affairs. Currently serving as the BJP chief in Andhra Pradesh, she is regarded as a highly articulate woman leader. Known as the ‘Sushma Swaraj of the South’ due to her excellent oratory skills and fluency in five languages, she enjoys widespread acceptance among BJP ranks and supporters.

### Vanathi Srinivasan

Vanathi Srinivasan, the national president of BJP Mahila Morcha, is an MLA from Coimbatore, where the party’s principal strategist and Home Minister Amit Shah recently attended events. She is credited with running several successful outreach programs through her front and has emerged as one of the most prominent women leaders in the party, trusted by PM Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

### Other Potential Candidates

A senior and reliable source suggested that the new incumbent will be in the 50-70 age bracket. Manohar Lal Khattar, also being discussed as a potential candidate, does not fit the bill as he is 71. Current HRD Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, around 55, falls within the preferred age range. If none of the mentioned women candidates is chosen, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupendra Yadav, 55, and Vinod Tawde, 61, could also emerge as potential contenders.

### Considerations for Selection

The BJP, traditionally known for fostering unity through consultation, is considering multiple factors in its decision-making process, including regional representation, caste dynamics, and the party’s performance in upcoming elections. The assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Gujarat are scheduled for the next few years after Bihar this year, and the BJP is also considering the electoral profiles of these states while pondering over candidates’ names.

### Role of RSS

Sources indicate that the party’s ideological mentor, the RSS, is also playing a role in the selection process, though the final decision will be made through party consensus.

As the BJP prepares to announce its new national president, the focus remains on balancing regional influence and national cohesion while sending a strong organizational message to the Southern states.