New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), long known for springing political surprises, is increasingly being seen as a party where key organisational decisions are tightly controlled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The recent appointment of Bihar minister and Bankipur MLA Nitin Nabin Sinha as the party’s Executive President has once again sparked debate over leadership transition, internal democracy, and the concentration of power at the top.
Nitin Nabin becomes only the second executive president in BJP history after J.P. Nadda, even though the post does not formally exist in the party constitution. Since 2019, however, the BJP has followed an informal practice of appointing an executive president ahead of naming a full-time national president—largely seen as a mechanism to smoothen leadership transitions while ensuring top leadership control.
Political observers question the timing of the move, especially when the process to elect a new national president is expected to begin in January. The BJP’s constitution mandates a formal but largely uncontested election process. By naming Nitin Nabin as executive president in advance, the party has effectively signalled its preferred choice, making the upcoming election appear more procedural than competitive.
At 45, Nitin Nabin is a five-time MLA and the first leader from Bihar to be appointed executive president of the BJP. While his elevation has surprised many, party insiders point to his organisational credentials, including his role as in-charge of the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections, where the BJP registered a decisive victory. Amit Shah’s reported long meeting with Nabin during the Bihar elections further strengthened speculation about his growing proximity to the top leadership.
Critics, however, argue that the appointment reflects a broader BJP strategy of sidelining heavyweight leaders under the banner of “generational change” and promoting leaders who pose no challenge to the Modi–Shah axis. By first appointing Nabin as executive president, the party appears to be preparing the ground, allowing him to build visibility and institutional acceptance before formally taking over as national president.
Political analysts say the BJP’s second line of leadership is being shaped in a manner that preserves continuity rather than competition. Strong, independent leaders are conspicuously absent from top organisational roles, reinforcing the perception that real power remains firmly concentrated around Modi and Shah.
The move, therefore, is being seen as a calculated “checkmate”—one that ensures firm control over the organisation while projecting an image of renewal and change. As the BJP moves closer to naming its next national president, the message appears clear: the party seeks stability under the Modi–Shah framework, with leadership transitions carefully choreographed rather than organically contested.
