JP Nadda Appointed BJP Working Prez, Shah to Remain Party Chief

“JP Nadda is a diligent karyakarta of the party, who has risen due to his hardwork,” PM Modi wrote on Twitter.

Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Jagat Prakash Nadda was appointed as the party's working president during a parliamentary board meeting on Monday, 17 June.

This was announced by former BJP president and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh after the party's highest decision-making body's meeting, which was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to congratulate Nadda on his appointment:

Shri @JPNadda is a diligent Karyakarta of the Party, who has risen through the ranks due to his hardwork and organisational skills. Humble and affable, he is widely respected across the BJP family. Congratulations to him on becoming the Working President of the Party. pic.twitter.com/PCV7ZXjxAN

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2019

I am confident that under the leadership of Shri @AmitShah and Shri @JPNadda, and powered by the hardwork of our Karyakartas, the BJP will continue winning people’s trust and serving our society. We remain committed to building a strong, developed and inclusive India. pic.twitter.com/1YYq80N2LO

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2019

Shah, meanwhile, will continue as the party’s chief.

Speaking on Nadda’s appointment, Rajnath wrote: “The BJP has won several elections under the leadership of party president Amit Shah. After the Prime Minister Narendra Modi appointed him the Home Minister, Amit ji himself had said that the responsibility of party president should be given to someone else.”

The @BJP4India has won several elections under the leadership of party president Shri @AmitShah. After the Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi appointed him the Home Minister, Amitji himself had said that the responsibility of party president should be given to someone else. 1/2

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 17, 2019

BJP Parliamentary board met today and it has selected Shri @JPNadda as the working president. He will remain the working president till the BJP’s membership drive& org. elections are over.

Congratulations & best wishes to Naddaji for shouldering this new responsibility. 2/2

— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) June 17, 2019

BJP’s First Working President

This is the first time the party has appointed a working president.

Shah's tenure ends in December 2019 and he may not like to get an extension as the party has principal of 'one man, one post', sources cited by PTI said.

Nadda, currently BJP's parliamentary board secretary, will continue as working president till BJP's organisational election are over amid indications that he may succeed Shah.

Nadda, 58, was given responsibility of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP bagged 62 out of the 80 seats in the politically-critical state.

A three-time MLA, Nadda represents Himachal Pradesh in Rajya Sabha and enjoys the confidence of the party's top brass. He was the health minister in the Modi government in the previous term.

(With inputs from PTI.)