BJP announces election for new President; Nomination on 19 Jan, new Prez on 20

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced the schedule for the election of its new national president, setting January 19 as the date for filing nominations and January 20 for the declaration of results. The entire election process will be conducted at the party’s headquarters.

According to the schedule issued by BJP national returning officer K Laxman, nomination papers can be submitted between 2 pm and 4 pm on January 19. The scrutiny of nominations will take place between 4 pm and 5 pm, while candidates will have time to withdraw their nominations from 5 pm to 6 pm the same day.

Laxman stated that polling will be held on January 20 only if required, following which the name of the newly elected BJP national president will be officially announced. The organisational exercise is expected to be completed within a day.

Party sources indicated that BJP national working president Nitin Nabin is likely to be elected unopposed, as no other senior leader is expected to contest the post. His elevation is being seen as part of a leadership transition within the party.

Nabin is expected to replace outgoing BJP president J P Nadda, with the party’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, backing his candidature, according to reports.