THE FUTURE ORDER
J.P. Nadda has had a smooth run as BJP president so far, and Amit Shah emerges as the next big hope after Modi
When J.P. Nadda took over as the BJP president a year ago, many believed he would be a token president while the real control would remain in the hands of the formidable duo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah. In fact, critics contended that Nadda was chosen as he was perceived to be someone who was ready to work in the shadow of Modi and Shah. His innings also started with a setback—the saffron party’s humiliating defeat in the Delhi assembly poll.
However, a year later, Nadda has not only emerged out of the shadows but also developed his own style of functioning—accessible and gentle, yet unwavering when it comes to organisational decisions. Undoubtedly, Modi-Shah still have overriding influence on party affairs and policies, but Nadda has managed to carve a niche for himself, particularly in terms of his attention to detail in organisational and strategic planning. From last year’s Bihar assembly election to preparing for the upcoming elections in five states—Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala—Nadda has been hands on and leading from the front, even setting the narrative at times.
His presence has been noted even by the Opposition forces, as was evident when his convoy was attacked in West Bengal, a state that will severely test his organisational skills in the next four months. No wonder then that 55 per cent of the MOTN respondents rate his performance as party president as good or outstanding.
Meanwhile, Shah, the prime minister’s most trusted lieutenant, retains his position as the most acceptable inheritor of the PM’s legacy. During Modi’s first term, he took charge of the BJP’s expansion plan, ensured victories in multiple assembly elections, particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh and in Assam, where the party was not a strong force. In Modi’s second term, Shah entered the realm of governance, driving several bold and controversial decisions such as the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. At the same time, he worked behind the scenes to engineer the installation of a BJP government in Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka, even if it meant poaching MLAs from other parties. During the pandemic, the home ministry under him has remained the nodal ministry in the country’s fight against the coronavirus. With Shah’s imprint all over the BJP-led NDA government and given his electoral abilities, it’s hardly surprising that 30 per cent respondents view him as the leader best suited to succeed Modi as the party’s next prime ministerial candidate.