With JP Nadda set to step down as BJP president, a senior leader from the saffron has hinted that the new chief will be elected by the end of February 2025.
Following the appointment, the new BJP president will nominate a team of office-bearers. The constitution of BJP stipulates that ahead of the national president's election, the party should complete organisational polls in at least half the state units.
Currently, around 60 per cent BJP state unit presidents have completed their tenure. A source quoted by PTI said the election to these state units will be completed by the middle of January.
The party functionary said the new president could either be from the government or from the organisation.
Who will be next BJP president?
Though nothing has been finalised yet, names of certain leaders are floating around. Devendra Fadnavis who was earlier speculated for BJP's top post will not be in the race after taking over as Maharashtra chief minister recently.
Other top leaders who were widely speculated for the presidential post include former Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Rajasthan CM Vasunadhara Raje and BJP General Secretary Sunil Bansal.
Maharashtra BJP leader Vinod Tawde was one of the names that was speculated for the top post earlier. However, an FIR filed by the election commission against Tawde for allegedly distributing cash for votes in Palghar during the assembly polls has raised doubts about his chances.
Nadda, who is the Union Health Minister, was appointed the BJP national president in February 2020. The BJP presidential election is held every three years but Nadda's tenure was extended ahead of the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year.
Reports suggested that differences between the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) led to the delay in electing a new president. Hence, it is believed that the new chief could someone picked by the RSS.