Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin Nabin on Tuesday took charge as the party’s new National President, replacing Jagat Prakash Nadda, after an internal organisational process that moved from the grassroots to the national level. At 45, Nabin becomes the youngest leader to hold the post, a move seen as signalling generational transition and a renewed focus on organisational strength ahead of key state elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
A five time MLA from Bihar with ministerial experience, Nabin has nearly two decades of party work behind him, including stints as President of the BJP’s Bihar unit and National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. His profile was significantly bolstered by leading the BJP’s successful 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly campaign, where extensive groundwork and micro level coordination delivered a clear majority against expectations.
Nabin was formally elected during the Sangathan Parv at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Narendra Modi and senior leaders including Amit Shah. Addressing the gathering, he said, “This day is a moment of resolve for me. Today, I am not just assuming a position, but also the ideology, traditions, and the responsibility of a nationalist movement of this party.” He added, “Politics is not luxury and comfort, it is austerity,” underlining a party first approach rooted in discipline and continuity.
“He is my boss”: PM Modi hails Nitin Nabin
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday congratulated Nitin Nabin on his election as BJP national president, describing the 45 year old as a “millennial” shaped by India’s rapid change.
Addressing party workers after the Sangathan Parv, Modi said, “When it comes to party matters, Mananiya Nitin Nabin ji… I am a worker, and you are my boss.”
He said Nabin’s role includes managing the BJP and ensuring coordination among NDA allies, adding that the new chief combines youthful energy with experience.
Opposition takes swipe at BJP over Nitin Nabin’s election as party president
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday announced Nitin Nabin as its new National President, with Narendra Modi referring to the newly elected chief as “my boss in party matters”. Nabin was declared president at the party headquarters after emerging as the sole candidate for the post.
The announcement, however, drew sharp reactions from the Opposition, which questioned the manner in which the election was conducted. Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera alleged that the BJP was “playing Bigg Boss” and targeted the Chief Election Commissioner. “Is Bigg Boss game being played here. What is this? The biggest boss of Hindu dharma is shedding tears and they are busy playing Bigg Boss,” PTI quoted him as saying. He further remarked, “Gyanesh Kumar wants to resign in protest; he has no role, he can’t even influence, he can’t even manipulate anything.”
Khera also questioned where the election was held, arguing that the president was announced first and the election declared later. Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha called it the BJP’s internal matter but said the process was “pre-decided”. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi said it was being made into a “big issue”, while Congress MP Manickam Tagore alleged that key decisions in the BJP are taken by Modi and Amit Shah.
Nabin assumed charge in the presence of senior leaders including Modi and outgoing president Jagat Prakash Nadda. At 45, he is the youngest leader to head the BJP and its 12th national president.
(With inputs from agencies)