Young President, Old Command: Who Really Runs the BJP Now?

The appointment of a new national president of an effervescent political party such as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where low-key is passé and bang-bang is the rule, has to be a high-profile and headline-grabbing event. What better than to match the larger-than-life persona of the key players by adding hype to this event of utmost political significance with a relatively unknown central character?

This phenomenon was at full display in the events leading to the selection of Mr Nitin Nabin, 45, as the BJP president, replacing Mr J P Nadda. If the former set a record of sorts by becoming the youngest chief of the over four-decade-old party, the latter has etched his mark of having, perhaps, the longest term at the helm in one go, having been the president for over six years.

Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi and Home Minister Mr Amit Shah, decidedly the two top strategists of the BJP with diminishing role of the RSS, zeroing in on Mr Nabin for the top party job, is an issue worth investigating. If it took the people at large by surprise as not much was known about him, in terms of his political and social standing beyond Bihar, in the public domain, the party insiders were equally ill at ease fathoming about their new boss. The debate has started, and naturally, too, on the challenges awaiting him and how he charts his course on his maiden national assignment as the party chief under the prying eyes of Mr Modi and Mr Shah. Barring that, Mr Nadda had already made his presence felt on the national scene before he was catapulted as BJP chief, there is not much difference in terms of challenges, task at hand and responsibilities that beckon Mr Nabin.

Although media reports have been talking about his hard-working nature and organising capacity which endeared him to the Modi-Shah duo, the time for Mr Nabin starts now on a real scale. However, the moot point is how much functional freedom and elbow space he gets to prove himself, or will the Nadda model be on display once again.

The chances of a status quo ante prevailing in the BJP are bright. The status can change only if the big two of the party are ready for a gradual, if not sudden, self-transformation to give functional autonomy to the new chief.

Notwithstanding Mr Modi's statement made on the occasion of the installation of Mr Nabin as the BJP president that the latter is his boss in party matters, it will be too much to expect from him and his number two. Unless they are in to spring another surprise in line with picking up a fresher as the party boss.     

Nothing much is known, at this stage, about Mr Nabin's nature or style of functioning, barring that he is a six-time MLA in Bihar after having stepped into his MLA father's shoes on his sad demise. And that he carried on the legacy with aplomb. Under the given circumstances, the chances of his showing the spark or going on a fast track are negligible and fraught with dangerous consequences. He must bear in mind that whenever Mr Nadda tried this, on or off the camera, he was pulled back disgracefully.

The fact of the matter is that with a well-oiled and well-resourced organisation under his wings and two towering leaders lording over him, he does not have much either to mull over or strategise. It is no secret, as was evident from the Nadda era, that the power centre lay somewhere else. Mr Nabin's efficiency, under the given circumstances, will be mapped by how effective implementor of the party plans and programmes he proves himself to be.

On a personal note, becoming BJP chief is a significant milestone for him. It has brought both opportunity and pressure on him. Ideally, he should seize the opportunity while resisting pressure. There lies the acid test for him. Will the Modi-Shah duo allow it to happen. It can become a possibility only if they decide to act his mentors and guides, to ensure generational shift on a true basis, rather than confining him to the role of a titular head.

On a positive note, the presence of the two leaders at the helm will be an asset for the new president in terms of acting as a protective gear against the internal lobbies and pulls and pressures within the BJP. Yes, one area where Mr Nabin could be hard-pressed to make his mark will be in understanding and managing the internal dynamics of the BJP's top heavy organisational network. Also, maintaining crucial balance between BJP and RSS.

There is an interesting safeguard in assigning the top party post to a novice or a newcomer and which comes in the form of low expectations to either perform or show one's dynamism. Neither Mr Nadda nor Mr Nabin were made the BJP chief solely by Mr Modi and Mr Shah, as reports suggest RSS had no role in either of the two cases, with these two factors in mind. Nonetheless, if Mr Nabin could bring in that x-factor without ruffling feathers of the top leaders, it will be good for his bright future.

The decision to go for a young candidate as the party president certainly fits into the groove of ushering the BJP on course to generational shift. It also gels with the overall demographic profile of the country. It remains a fact that India has the largest youth population in the world. Around 65 per cent of the 145 crore (1.45 billion) people in the country are below the age of 35, making it imperative to have younger leadership and bring forth youth-oriented policies.

Mr Nabin perfectly fits into this capsule. But his appointment alone with his hands tied to his back will make the generational shift an onerous task.  As he gains experience as a national leader, he should not be seen as being back-seat driven and subjected to continuous pressure from the top. Fact of the matter is that in the party affairs, as stated by PM Mr Modi, he should be the top and the boss.

The top leadership also need to change their perspective from making the party merely an election winning machinery with heavy reliance on religion, caste and creed, to a more forward looking one. That is how a generational shift can be achieved through convincing the younger generation on firm basis rather than harping on peripheral issues to raise emotions as a vote garnering mechanism. The BJP, as the biggest political party of the world, should be more meaningful to the country and its people if it wishes to have an effective generational shift for a bright future for the organization. Mr Nabin as BJP chief is an opportunity which the top brass and the big-wigs of the party must capitalize fully in this endeavour.

The writer is commentator on socio-political issues; views are personal