New Delhi | Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin was on Sunday appointed as the BJP national working president and is likely to eventually succeed JP Nadda as its national president, signalling a generational shift in the ruling party.
Nabin, 45, the son of late BJP veteran and former MLA Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, is considered dynamic, ideologically rooted and deeply committed to the organisation, party leaders said.
He also comes from the RSS background.
A five-time MLA, Nabin represents Bankipur assembly constituency in Bihar and has served twice as a minister in the Bihar Government.
His tenures as a minister in Bihar and his role as the party incharge of Chhattisgarh have been truly outstanding and marked by his effective organisational leadership, they said.
The BJP parliamentary board picked Nabin for the post. At present, he is the PWD minister in Bihar and an MLA from Bankipur in Patna.
"Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board has appointed Nitin Nabin, a minister in the Bihar government, the Bharatiya Janata Party's national working president with immediate effect," BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in a notification.
Nabin, who belongs to the Kayastha community, is likely to succeed incumbent BJP chief Nadda and is one of the youngest leaders to occupy the post, the leaders said.
Incidentally, Nadda, 65, was also born in Bihar and received his early education in Patna before moving to his home state, Himachal Pradesh. He was appointed the BJP President in January 2020 and has already completed his full term. He was granted extensions to lead the party through the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Congratulating Nabin on his appointment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he has distinguished himself as a "hardworking Karyakarta" and expressed confidence that his energy and dedication will strengthen the party.
"He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people's aspirations.
"He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our Party in the times to come. Congratulations to him on becoming the BJP National Working President," PM Modi said on X.
Nabin has also worked extensively for Yuva Morcha. His appointment reflects the BJP's focus on capable leadership and signals a generational shift, the leaders said.
"This is dedicated to the party workers," Nabin told reporters in Patna, while reacting to his appointment, and said he will continue to work for the party with full dedication.
Later, addressing party leaders at the state BJP office, Nabin thanked the BJP leadership. "We will work to strengthen the BJP as per the directions of our senior leadership with the approach of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. I also thank all party workers. It all happened because of the hard work of the party workers."
"I believe that when you work as a dedicated worker of the party, senior leaders always take note of that, and I will continue to work for the party with full dedication," he said.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said Nabin is a "diligent worker" and a person endowed with out-of-the-box thinking capacity.
"Under the inspiring leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he will surely succeed in taking the BJP to new heights of success," Singh said in a post on X.
BJP chief Nadda also greeted Nabin and said he was confident that the party would attain new heights under his leadership.
"I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the dynamic BJP leader from the sacred land of knowledge and culture, Bihar, and Minister in the Bihar Government, Shri Nitin Nabin ji on his appointment as the National Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"I am fully confident that under the guidance of the esteemed Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji and your leadership, the organisation will reach new heights with the spirit of service to the nation and people. Heartfelt best wishes for your illustrious and successful tenure," he said on X.
The choice for the party's top post left everyone surprised, again, as the BJP has been known for naming dark horses for key positions. Nabin himself was busy attending public functions in his constituency.
When he was just 26 years old, Nabin was fielded by the BJP from Patna West assembly seat in 2006 after it fell vacant due to the death of his father.
He has been known to win elections with huge margins, starting with the first bypoll he contested in 2006 which he won by nearly 60,000 votes. The latest one, earlier this year, he won by over 51,000 votes.
Union Home Minister and former BJP chief Amit Shah praised Nabin for his work, saying he has fulfilled every responsibility with "complete dedication and success", be it serving as the national general secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha or party in-charge for Chhattisgarh.
Shah said that having served five times as a legislator and as a minister in the Bihar government, Nabin comes with an "extensive experience" of working among the people.
"His elevation today to the position of national working president is an honour for every young BJP worker who toils day and night," Shah said.
Nabin will arrive in Delhi on Monday morning to assume charge. He will be welcomed by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and party supporters at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.
"Thereafter, Nabin will reach the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters at 11:00 am, where party workers will accord him a grand welcome,” the BJP said in a statement.
Born in Ranchi, now in Jharkhand, Nabin has a son and a daughter.
Atal Behari Vajpayee became the first BJP president after it was formed in 1980 and was succeeded by Lal Krishna Advani in 1986.
Advani served as BJP president for three terms, while others who held the position include Murli Manohar Joshi, Kushabhau Thakre, Bangaru Laxman, Jana Krishnamurthi, Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh (twice), Nitin Gadkari and Amit Shah.
