BJP speeds up internal polls to elect new national chief

The ruling BJP has hastened its internal polls for election to the post of national president immediately after Makar Sankranti on January 15. Incumbent Amit Shah’s term ends on January 23 and the party will have to complete election formalities in at least 18 of its 36 organisational states before holding elections for the post.

The ruling BJP has hastened its internal polls for election to the post of national president immediately after Makar Sankranti on January 15. Incumbent Amit Shah’s term ends on January 23 and the party will have to complete election formalities in at least 18 of its 36 organisational states before holding elections for the post.

So far, the BJP has held elections in four states – Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Meghalaya – while a new president in the fifth state, Madhya Pradesh, will be elected on Monday.(PTI/Representative photo)

So far, the BJP has held elections in four states – Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, and Meghalaya – while a new president in the fifth state, Madhya Pradesh, will be elected on Monday.

“Nearly 20 states are ready for organisational election. We are planning to complete the election of state president in these many states by January 10. We will then be ready for the election for the post of national president,” a BJP office-bearer told HT.

Shah took over from Rajnath Singh, who stepped down from the party post on July 9, 2014, after being chosen to steer the high-profile home ministry.

BJP and RSS leadership is yet to start formal deliberations amongst themselves on a full three-year term to Shah as his re-election has not seemed to invite any challenge from stakeholders within the party.

Shah won praises from the RSS for the work he put in elections in various states after the Lok Sabha polls. But humiliating defeats in Delhi and Bihar, coupled with a revolt of sorts by party veterans, had set tongues wagging in the BJP.