Reshuffle in BJP likely after assembly elections

At least six new faces would be joining the BJP’s team of national office bearers in the organisational reshuffle, expected to be executed after Jharkhand and J-K assembly elections.

At least six new faces would be joining the BJP’s team of national office bearers in the organisational reshuffle, expected to be executed after Jharkhand and J-K assembly elections.

Five serving BJP office bearers — 3 general secretaries and 2 vice-presidents — joined the government last month, creating a vacancy in the organisation. One post of secretary is also lying vacant. “The reshuffle in BJP will be carried out after the assembly election in Jharkhand and J-K are over,” said a senior BJP leader.

BJP’s youth wing president and three-time Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur is seen as a probable for the general secretary’s post. He was also in contention for a ministerial position but lost to fellow politician from Himachal Pradesh JP Nadda, a Rajya Sabha member.

Yogi Adityanath — the firebrand MP from Gorakhpur — is also in contention for an organisation assignment. Adityanat was projected as BJP’s face in the byelection in Uttar Pradesh recently but despite a poor show, the party has not lost all faith in him. Trivendra Singh Rawat, a former Uttarakhand minister, is another probable for the post of secretary. He was recently appointed the in-charge for Jharkhand. Uttarakhand has not be given a representation in the Modi government and BJP sources say Rawat may benefit out of BJP’s plans to groom new leaders in the hill-state.

Some office bearers who have become ministers were looking after key states like Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Punjab and others. The responsibility will now be distributed among the new faces.