Who Will Replace J P Nadda As The Next BJP Chief? RSS-Backed Move May See Party's First Woman President

Facing a stalemate over the new party chief, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly considering appointing a woman as its next national president, India Today reported, citing sources.

Although J P Nadda's term as BJP chief officially ended in January 2023, the BJP extended his tenure until June 2024 to lead the party during the Lok Sabha polls last year.

The party's senior leadership has been engaged in wide-ranging consultations, with several prominent women politicians being considered.

Party leaders like Nirmala Sitharaman, D Purandeswari, and Vanathi Srinivasan are reportedly emerging as leading contenders for the post.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, seen as a top contender, recently held a high-level meeting with BJP President JP Nadda and General Secretary BL Santhosh at party headquarters.

Party insiders reportedly highlight Sitharaman’s broad administrative experience and organisational potential as key strengths backing her candidacy.

Should Sitharaman be selected, it could aid BJP’s southern outreach and signal alignment with the forthcoming 33 per cent women’s reservation in the Lok Sabha post-delimitation.

Having earlier served as Defence Minister, Sitharaman brings both cabinet-level experience and long-standing involvement within the party’s framework.

D Purandeswari, a former BJP state chief from Andhra Pradesh, is also a key name under serious consideration.

Fluent in multiple languages, Purandeswari has held a cross-spectrum political career marked by ministerial roles and parliamentary experience.

She was recently part of “Operation Sindoor" delegation, a multi-party diplomatic delegation that visited various countries to spread India's anti-terror message.

Vanathi Srinivasan has likewise emerged as a possible candidate for the BJP national presidency.

A lawyer-turned-politician, Srinivasan currently serves as the MLA from Coimbatore South in Tamil Nadu.

Since joining BJP in 1993, Vanathi has steadily risen through the ranks, holding positions such as State Secretary, General Secretary, and Vice President in Tamil Nadu.

In 2020, she was appointed the National President of the BJP Mahila Morcha, and in 2022 she became a member of the BJP’s Central Election Committee, notably the first Tamil woman in that position.

According to sources cited in the India Today report, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has endorsed the idea of appointing a woman to the party's top post, recognising both the symbolic and strategic advantages of female leadership.

This comes as women voters have become a decisive bloc in recent BJP electoral wins, especially in states like Maharashtra, Haryana, and Delhi.

If the BJP proceeds with the move, it would make history by naming a woman as its national president for the first time.

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