In a big development, Jagat Prakash Nadda has officially succeeded Union Home Minister, Amit Shah as the BJP chief. The 59 year old leader has been elected unopposed as the president of the world’s largest party.
Nadda’s unanimous election as the party chief brings Amit Shah’s glorious five-and-a-half years tenure as the BJP chief to an end. During his tenure, Amit Shah managed to expand BJP’s footprint in an unprecedented manner making it a truly pan-India party.
Nadda faces immense pressure of expectations having succeeded someone like Amit Shah. During Shah’s tenure the party has made decisive forays into regions and states where the BJP has been traditionally weak, and in some cases even non-existent.
West Bengal has to be the biggest example of Amit Shah’s competence. The party managed to substantially tame Mamata Banerjee’s stronghold in West Bengal. Last year, the party managed to increase its seat tally from 2 to 18 in the state, while the tally of Mamata Banerjee ruled TMC fell sharply from 34 to 22.
Now, BJP is all set to challenge Mamata Banerjee’s Chief Ministership when the state goes to polls next year. JP Nadda will carry the weight of BJP’s expectations when the state of West Bengal goes to elections.
Even in the Northeast, BJP managed to make deep inroads with the formation of North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) on May 24, 2016. The BJP secured massive victories in the states of Tripura and Assam. Himanta Biswa Sarma, convenor of the NEDA propelled the BJP-led in the Northeastern states. Today, the BJP led NEDA is in power in all seven Northeastern states and also in power in the state of Sikkim.
When Amit Shah roped in Himanta Biswa Sarma, the friend turned foe of former Assam Chief Minister and Congress leader, Tarun Gogoi, many had doubted his decision. But this political masterstroke has paid off brilliantly for the BJP. The Northeast has been practically made ‘Congress-mukt’.
In the traditional strongholds of the party too, Shah’s strategy has turned out to be quite successful. Not projecting any Chief Ministerial candidate in the states of Haryana, Maharashtra, UP and Uttarakhand that had gone to polls between the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections worked in favour of the BJP.
The BJP managed to come back to power in Uttar Pradesh with a clear majority in 2017 after a long period of 26 years. BJP secured 40 per cent vote share far exceeding even its own expectations.
The juggernaut of the Amit Shah led BJP went further even during the Lok Sabha elections. The outgoing BJP chief, Amit Shah managed to better the party’s 2014 seats tally during the 2019 General Elections, crossing the 300-mark.
BJP as a whole has touched new heights in terms of popularity with Shah at the helm of affairs. Most recently, the party inducted 7 crore new members taking the number of BJP members to 18 crores. The party has become rather humongous in terms of membership and Amit Shah has tasted success when it comes to launching ambitious membership drives.
JP Nadda, BJP Working President: There are only 8 countries in the world that have a bigger population than our party members. pic.twitter.com/yVKeCMpRSF
— ANI (@ANI) August 29, 2019
It has only been due to a string of electoral triumphs and structural bolstering that the Modi government has been able to make historic decisions such as Article 370 abrogation, Instant Triple Talaq abolition and the Citizenship Amendment Act. Unprecedented success with Amit Shah at the helm of affairs has enabled the party to achieve its primary political objectives.
The BJP has not only been electorally successful under Amit Shah’s leadership, but has also emerged as focused and dedicated political power. Take for instance, the party’s decision to part ways with the Mehbooba Mufti led PDP when it realised that the Kashmir situation couldn’t have been controlled by remaining a part of the alliance government with the PDP.
JP Nadda who was till now acting as the Working President has now taken on the mantle of heading the BJP. He was appointed as the party’s Working President in July last year. Nadda has always been the organisation man and he has proven his capabilities in the recent past itself.
JP Nadda was the election convener for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and under his watch, the party was not only successful in withstanding the formidable Mahagathbandhan of Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav, it was able to defeat them comprehensively.
It was also with JP Nadda heading the Health Ministry that PM Modi was able to launch the biggest health insurance scheme in the world and possibly the most revolutionary reform in India’s history.
JP Nadda is a quiet backroom planner. He is good with strategizing and his seniority commands respect from one and all in the BJP. As such the Rajya Sabha MP from Himachal Pradesh is tailor made for the top job. Although he is going to carry forward the huge responsibility of starting from where Amit Shah left as the BJP President, he is certainly the most well equipped to actually fulfill the humongous task even as the BJP enters a new era.