New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday named Nitin Nabin as its new national president, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi formally handing over the reins at an organisational event attended by senior party leaders, including outgoing chief J P Nadda.
Congratulating Nabin, PM Modi struck a characteristically informal note, saying that from now on Nabin was his “boss” and that he himself remained a party worker. “In the BJP, presidents may change, but our ideals never do,” the prime minister said, underscoring what he described as the party’s emphasis on continuity and discipline.
PM Modi said the election of the national president of what he called the world’s largest political party was a matter of pride, adding that the process had been conducted democratically over several months, from the grassroots to the top, in keeping with the BJP’s constitution. “This journey, from the smallest unit to the national leadership, reflects the strength of our internal democracy,” he said.
Reflecting on the party’s organisational culture, PM Modi said the BJP focused not only on expansion but also on the development of its workers. Despite holding the country’s highest executive office, he said his greatest identity remained that of a BJP worker. “Positions come and go, but responsibility here is lifelong,” he added.
Looking ahead, PM Modi described the coming 25 years as crucial for building a developed India, saying Nabin would lead the party at the start of what he termed a decisive phase of the 21st century. Referring to Nabin as part of a “millennial” generation of leadership, Modi said he had witnessed first-hand the country’s economic, social and technological transformation.
The prime minister also invoked the party’s ideological lineage, pointing to recent commemorations such as the 125th birth anniversary of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the centenary of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the 100th anniversary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. These milestones, he said, reinforced the party’s commitment to national service.
“The BJP is not just a political party; it is a culture and a family,” PM Modi said, adding that relationships and collective purpose mattered more than formal titles. Leadership, he concluded, might change hands, but the party’s direction and principles would remain “unwavering”.
