BJP Presidential Poll: Why UP, Bihar, Bengal And Delhi Slowed Down The Race | Saffron Scoop

Last Updated:March 07, 2025, 16:29 IST

The road to the BJP presidency has hit a few roadblocks. Key states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal are grappling with political events that have impacted the party's election timeline.

The BJP may have a new national president after Holi and before the RSS’s key meeting in Bengaluru. (PTI Photo)

The headlines are dominated by speculation over who will be the next BJP President—or at the very least, which region they will be from. Is the BJP actively considering a candidate from southern India? If so, from which state? Which names are circulating from North and East India? These are the primary questions capturing readers’ attention. However, before focusing on potential contenders, a more fundamental question arises.

Before addressing that, let’s first look at the process.

As per the party’s constitution, organisational elections must be completed in 50 per cent of the states before proceeding with the election of the President. Till now, the party has been able to conduct organisational elections in 13 out of the 18 states required to meet the 50 per cent criterion—and counting.

THE CONCERN

The BJP has successfully completed organisational elections in Union Territories such as Chandigarh, Goa, Ladakh, and Lakshadweep. Among the states, the saffron party has finished organisational elections in Northeastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Nagaland, Assam, and Meghalaya. In the mainland states, the BJP has finalised organisational elections in Jammu & Kashmir, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.

Only recently, after a push from New Delhi, Bihar elected its new state chief, with Dilip Kumar Jaiswal being unanimously chosen. Sources in the BJP say Bihar was the first among the remaining states that the party leadership was keenly focused on.

“Every state counts the same, but can you deny the heft that Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, or Madhya Pradesh carries? Reaching 50 per cent without these key states is simply not an option," said a BJP source requesting anonymity. The source added that while hitting the 50 per cent mark in time is not a concern, it cannot be done without the key Hindi heartland states and those where elections are due, such as West Bengal.

However, the source reassured, “We will get there, taking them along in a few days." But what caused the delay?

WHY WAS UP LATE?

Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, was occupied with organising the Maha Kumbh, the world’s largest spiritual gathering. The UP administration, assisted by BJP volunteers, oversaw the event. According to government figures, the Maha Kumbh 2025 witnessed nearly 66 crore devotees from India and abroad taking a holy dip at Triveni Sangam in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The Chief Minister was focused on Prayagraj and was personally present for most VIP visits, including those of Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Shah. This left little room for preparations for the organisational elections.

WHY WAS BIHAR LATE?

In Bihar, the organisational elections were delayed due to the impending cabinet expansion of Nitish Kumar. Ahead of this, Dilip Jaiswal resigned from Nitish’s cabinet, where he was serving as the Minister for Revenue and Land Reforms. With elections approaching, it was evident that the party wanted him to focus entirely on the organisation. Once the caste balance was maintained and Nitish was kept in good humour with Samrat Choudhary—once his arch-enemy—making it clear that Nitish Kumar would remain Chief Minister, the stage was finally set for the organisational elections in Bihar.

WHY WAS BENGAL LATE?

Then there are states like West Bengal, which began the membership drive—the first step in the BJP presidential election—late due to the widespread RG Kar protests across the state. Sources told News18 that the BJP’s top leadership prioritised participation in the protests. The party felt that attempting a membership drive in such an emotionally charged atmosphere would have been counterproductive.

Now, however, there is no unanimity on the next state president, given that the current Bengal BJP president, Sukanta Majumdar, has been elevated to the Union Cabinet. Leader of the Opposition in Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, recently made a quiet visit to Delhi and met Home Minister Amit Shah. Speculation is rife that the next BJP state president was a key topic of discussion.

THE ‘CAPITAL’ REASON

And then came the ‘mother’ of all reasons—the Delhi election. After 27 years, the BJP managed to enter the Delhi Secretariat. This required a meticulously crafted campaign and execution, involving a range of leaders, including the Prime Minister, who coined the term ‘AAP-da’ in a rally—a phrase that became Delhi BJP’s go-to attack line against the Aam Aadmi Party.

Since the election was held in Delhi, most ministers were engaged in the campaign. Even junior ministers were pressed into action, creating a leadership vacuum in January when it was crucial to push states to expedite the organisational elections.

However, according to a BJP source, states have now been instructed to complete their organisational elections by 14 March. If the source is to be believed, the BJP may have a new national president after Holi and before the RSS’s key meeting in Bangalore, which begins on 21 March.

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