Amid an ongoing deadlock over the appointment of its next national president, the BJP is reportedly considering a woman leader for the top post, according to multiple reports. With current president JP Nadda serving an extended tenure since last year, the party is expected to make a leadership announcement soon.
According to reports, high-level discussions are underway and prominent women leaders such as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, D Purandeswari and Vanathi Srinivasan are being considered for the post.
Among the frontrunners is Nirmala Sitharaman, who recently held a key strategy meeting with JP Nadda and party General Secretary BL Santhosh. Her extensive administrative and party experience, including tenures as Finance and Defence Minister, make her a strong contender. Her elevation could help boost BJP’s presence in southern India and reflect the party’s support for the upcoming 33% women’s reservation bill in the Lok Sabha.
Former Andhra Pradesh BJP chief D Purandeswari is also in the reckoning. Known for her multilingual skills and cross-party experience, Purandeswari was part of the Operation Sindoor foreign delegation. Her appointment could further BJP’s reach in Andhra Pradesh and strengthen the party’s regional appeal.
Vanathi Srinivasan, a lawyer and sitting MLA from Coimbatore South, is the third name in contention. A longtime BJP leader in Tamil Nadu, she has served as the National President of the BJP Mahila Morcha and is a member of the party’s Central Election Committee, the first Tamil woman to hold this position, according to India Today.
The BJP has initiated the process to elect its next national president by appointing senior leaders to oversee internal organisational elections in key states. In an official communication issued last week, the party announced that Union Minister Kiren Rijiju will serve as the election officer for Maharashtra. Harsh Malhotra has been assigned to supervise the election process in Uttarakhand, while former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad will oversee the organisational polls in West Bengal.