National News: The suspense over the national president of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) is now nearing its conclusion. After a delay of nearly two and a half years, it is widely expected that the party will appoint a new national president in July 2025. With organizational elections completed in most states and new state presidents already in place, the path for a leadership change at the central level is now clear.
This time, two dominant possibilities are being discussed within political circles—will the BJP get its first woman national president, or will the party once again entrust the leadership to an OBC face?
Nirmala Sitharaman: BJP’s First Woman President?
According to a recent India Today report, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has emerged as the frontrunner for the top post. Her recent meeting with outgoing BJP president JP Nadda and organization general secretary BL Santosh at the party headquarters has fueled speculation about her elevation.
Sitharaman is not only a prominent South Indian face but also a trusted and experienced leader in the Modi government. Her appointment could be a strategic move to strengthen the party’s commitment to women’s leadership, especially after the passage of the 33% Women’s Reservation Bill.
D. Purandeshwari & Vanathi Srinivasan Also in the Race
Apart from Sitharaman, two other women leaders are being considered strong contenders. The first is D. Purandeshwari, a former Union Minister and past BJP state president in Andhra Pradesh. She is known for her linguistic skills and diplomatic experience, including participation in high-level missions such as ‘Operation Sindoor’.
The second is Vanathi Srinivasan, a sitting MLA from Tamil Nadu, a senior lawyer by profession, and former national president of BJP Mahila Morcha. A party member since 1993, Srinivasan has held multiple key roles, including state secretary, general secretary, and vice president in Tamil Nadu. She also served on the Central Election Committee, becoming the first Tamil woman to hold that position.
OBC Factor: Is Maurya the Leading Candidate?
However, internal sources suggest that the party might opt to play the OBC card again. A senior BJP functionary revealed that Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya is currently the most likely candidate. Maurya is seen as a leader with strong RSS roots and has a significant social base in Eastern UP, Bihar, and Central India. His elevation could strengthen the party’s outreach among OBC communities ahead of crucial upcoming elections.
Another name that has surfaced is that of Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, also an OBC leader. However, keeping in mind the 2025 Bihar elections, 2026 West Bengal elections, and 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, Maurya appears to be the more strategically aligned choice.
JP Nadda's Tenure Ended; Delay Raises Questions
JP Nadda's official tenure ended in January 2023, but it was extended due to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and several state assembly elections. This prolonged delay has even drawn remarks in Parliament, with the opposition questioning the BJP’s indecision.
Now that organizational elections have concluded in most states, party insiders suggest that the appointment of a new national president is imminent, likely within this month.
Balancing Gender Representation and Social Strategy
The BJP faces a dual challenge in choosing its next national president—promoting women’s leadership and maintaining social caste equations, especially in the run-up to major elections. On one hand, a woman president would reinforce the party’s narrative following the Women’s Reservation Bill; on the other, an OBC leader could help consolidate a vast electoral base across several key states.
All eyes are now on the BJP's top leadership to see whether a woman leader like Nirmala Sitharaman, D. Purandeshwari, or Vanathi Srinivasan will create history, or whether a grassroots OBC leader like Keshav Prasad Maurya will take the reins of the world's largest political party.
