Nadda made BJP working president

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, June 17

The BJP today appointed former Health Minister JP Nadda as its working president, but Amit Shah will continue to hold the party chief’s post till the election process to select his successor is completed.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board where Shah expressed his inability to continue as the BJP chief in view of his new responsibilities as the Home Minister. Announcing the decision, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Shah wanted the responsibility to be transferred even though the parliamentary board was unanimous in opinion that he should continue till Assembly elections in key states and the organisational process to select the new chief was completed.

“But Amitji said he will be keeping so busy (as the Home Minister) that he will not be able to fulfil his responsibilities as the party chief with full honesty. So, the board selected Nadda as the working president. He will continue in the post till the party’s membership drive and organisational elections are over,” Singh said.

Nadda is likely to take over from Shah after the process of organisational elections is finally over. But while the BJP has a one-man-one-post rule, there seemed to be other considerations behind the sudden decision today.

“The Home Minister’s post is an important one and with so much happening across the country, especially in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah is under constant scrutiny. Besides, the BJP president’s post is a full-time job and now there are plans to expand the party down South and take it further in Bengal. Therefore, a working president is the middle path and Shah remains the supreme leader,” sources in the party said.