The Bharatiya Janata party is expected to elect a new president this month following a slight delay due to the ongoing Parliament Session. The party has been seeking prospective candidates for nearly a year following the induction of JP Nadda into the Narendra Modi Cabinet.
According to a source-based NDTV report, the process will begin after the Monsoon Session ends on April 4. The publication said that the names of 13 state presidents have also been announced following he completion of organisations polls in these areas. The ruling party is expected to announce the names for remaining states — including Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal — over the next few days.
Source-based reports have also suggested that the process may conclude as early as April 15 — naming Manohar Lal Khattar, Pralhad Joshi, Dharmendra Pradhan and Arjun Ram Meghwal as key contenders. It is pertinent to note that the party has not officially confirmed their candidature or set out a timeline for the elections.
How does the BJP elect its President?
The BJP constitution requires at least half the state units to elect their own presidents in order to form the electoral college that will formally vote for a party chief. The party began holding polls for its State party units in mid-January even as its latest membership drive crossed the 100 million mark. The party president is traditionally elected after this process following a ‘coordination’ meeting with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. The BJP national president will subsequently nominate a team of office bearers.
The BJP constitution also outlines the proceedure in case there are multiple candidates after the date of withdrawal of nominations. In such cases polling is to be held in all state capitals before the sealed ballot boxes are brought to Delhi and the votes are counted.