BJP Announces New Team Under Nitin Nabin, Modi Congratulates

New Delhi: BJP president Nitin Nabin on Monday announced a new national team of office-bearers, bringing in a large number of younger and new faces while moving out much of the old guard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the newly appointed team, saying it brought together “organisational experience, energy and grassroots connect”.

The organisational reshuffle also marked the return of senior leaders such as former Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje, Ram Madhav and D. Purandeshwari, who are among the 13 national vice-presidents.

Former Union minister Smriti Irani, former Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb, former Rajasthan BJP chief Satish Poonia and former Basti MP Harish Dwivedi are among the eight general secretaries. Vinod Tawde and Sunil Bansal have been retained as general secretaries.

While B.L. Santhosh will continue as national general secretary (organisation), BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya has been dropped from the new team.

Of the 65 members in the team headed by the 46-year-old Nabin, 51 are new. Six are below 40 years, 15 are in the 40-49 age group and 21 are between 50 and 59 years. The new team represents 23 states and Union territories.

Nabin said the “blend of experience and energy” would give “new momentum” to the party under Modi’s guidance. Nabin had succeeded J.P. Nadda as BJP president in January.

The party has appointed 16 national secretaries, most of them new faces. They include Bihar BJP vice-president Siddharth Shambhu, former Delhi mayor Jai Prakash, Nagaland’s first woman MP Phangnon Konyak, Rajya Sabha MP Kavita Patidar and former Assam BJP youth wing chief Mriganka Deo Barman. Rajya Sabha MP and former AAP leader Sandeep Pathak has also been included.

Union minister Piyush Goyal returns as national treasurer, with Rajasthan leader Rajesh Mangal as joint treasurer. Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh has been made central office in-charge, while former Madhya Pradesh BJP chief V.D. Sharma has been appointed coordinator of all party cells.

The BJP has also brought in new chiefs for its morchas. Vadodara MP Hemang Joshi will head the Yuva Morcha, while Mahasamund MP Roopkumari Choudhary will lead the Mahila Morcha.

Anil Baluni continues as national media convenor, while Aashish Usha Agarwal, Pradeep Bhandari and Siddharth Yadav have been appointed co-convenors.

The party has also revamped its IT cell, appointing Deepak Mhaskey as its head in place of Malviya. Priti Gandhi, Shivanand Dwivedi, Alok Bhatt and Arun Yadav have been made co-convenors.

The BJP said the team had been constituted with an emphasis on regional balance and social inclusion. It includes four tribal representatives and three Scheduled Caste members, besides representation from major faiths, including Sikh, Christian, Jain, Parsi and Muslim communities.

The Northeast has also been given greater representation, with leaders from Tripura, Assam and Nagaland and the continuation of a dedicated Northeast Coordination Cell headed by Sambit Patra.

The new team is likely to hold its first meeting on August 22. Its announcement has also fuelled speculation within the BJP about a possible reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Council of Ministers.

78% NEW FACES

51 of the 65 members are new.

Vice presidents: Vasundhara Raje, Ram Madhav, D. Purandeshwari, Manpreet Singh Badal, Tariq Mansoor

General secretaries: Smriti Irani, Biplab Deb, Harish Dwivedi, Satish Poonia, Vinod Tawde, Sunil Bansal

Treasurer: Piyush Goyal

Media convenor: Anil Baluni

IT cell chief: Deepak Mhaskey

Yuva Morcha: Hemang Joshi

Mahila Morcha: Roopkumari Choudhary

Northeast Coordination Cell: Sambit Patra

Faith representation:

1 Sikh | 2 Christians | 1 Jain | 1 Parsi | 2 Muslims