New Delhi:
PM Modi is scheduled to leave for Seychelles on Saturday on a state visit and return on 29 June.
Sources told The Sunday Guardian that the organisational list could now be announced at any time, with the exercise running parallel to deliberations on a possible Union Cabinet reshuffle.
According to multiple party sources, the broad contours of the new organisational team had been finalised as early as May. However, the announcement was subsequently delayed after a series of political developments altered the party’s calculations. These included Rajya Sabha members from the Aam Aadmi Party joining the BJP, Trinamool Congress parliamentarians breaking away from their party to extend support to the BJP, and the rebellion by six Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Members of Parliament.
Sources said these developments required the leadership to revisit its plans, as some of the new entrants and allies also had to be accommodated, either in the Union Cabinet or within the BJP’s organisational structure. Punjab is understood to be among the states where representation has figured prominently during the final round of deliberations.
Party insiders said the organisational overhaul is expected to be far more extensive than a routine reshuffle, with the new team under Nitin Nabin likely to feature several unexpected appointments and relatively few continuities from the existing set-up. According to those familiar with the exercise, the leadership has consciously opted for a largely new team that will be entrusted with steering the party’s organisational and electoral strategy over the coming years.
Sources said the team is being constituted with an eye on the 2029 Lok Sabha election and the Assembly elections preceding it. According to them, the leadership believes preparations for the next general election must begin immediately, backed by an organisation capable of delivering on the party’s long-term political objectives. Consequently, several office-bearers seen as having lost their organisational effectiveness or political relevance are likely to be replaced by leaders considered better suited to lead the party into the next electoral cycle.
“The emphasis is on building a team for the future rather than preserving the status quo,” a senior party functionary familiar with the exercise said, adding that the final list is expected to reflect a significant organisational reset rather than incremental changes.
The organisational exercise is also taking place alongside discussions on a possible Cabinet reshuffle. According to sources, some Union ministers from Uttar Pradesh who have been part of the Modi government are expected to make way for new faces as part of the exercise.
The future of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has attracted particular attention following the prolonged political controversy surrounding the NEET examination. The examination row, allegations of irregularities, sustained attacks by the Opposition and reports of student deaths that fuelled public outrage placed the Education Ministry under intense scrutiny and triggered speculation over Pradhan’s future in the Cabinet.
Against this backdrop, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday wishes to Pradhan on Friday triggered fresh political speculation. However, party sources cautioned against reading any political significance into the gesture. They described it as a routine courtesy extended to a Cabinet colleague and said it should neither be interpreted as a signal that Pradhan would continue in the Cabinet nor as an indication that he was set to be dropped.
Despite speculation that Bhupender Yadav could be assigned a different responsibility, sources indicated that he is likely to continue in the party organisation.
Rajya Sabha member Vinod Tawde is also understood to be among the probable inclusions in the forthcoming set-up.
Sources further indicated that the leadership is factoring in the party’s long-term political strategy in Himachal Pradesh while taking organisational decisions. According to them, discussions have included the future roles of senior leaders from the state, including JP Nadda and Anurag Thakur. Party insiders said one possibility under consideration is that Nadda could eventually be assigned a larger role in Himachal Pradesh, while Thakur may be accommodated either in the BJP organisation or in a future Cabinet reshuffle.
Several leaders considered strong contenders for organisational responsibilities requested The Sunday Guardian not to disclose their identities before the official announcement. They said premature publication of their names could trigger unnecessary speculation, lobbying and attention before the final list is unveiled.
Despite widespread speculation over the likely composition of the new team, party insiders said the entire exercise has been conducted under an unusually high degree of secrecy. According to sources, even several senior BJP leaders remain unaware of the final composition of the team or the precise timing of the announcement.
One source close to the BJP president said one of the factors that contributed to the delay was the premature appearance of some probable names in sections of the media, something the leadership viewed as undesirable. Following that, the process was made even more tightly held, with information regarding the organisational exercise restricted to a very small circle until final approval.
With the final consultations between Prime Minister Modi and Nitin Nabin now complete, sources said all major issues relating to organisational appointments have been resolved and the announcement is expected at any time.
