The current National President of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), JP Nadda, is ending his tenure, which was extended till June 2025. The party has appointed party chiefs for its local units in six states and Union territories, and is about to declare its new President. The appointment is expected to take place in the forthcoming days, ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament. And this time, speculations are high that the right-wing party might elect a Woman candidate. Three names are surfacing, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the race. Is this a strategic step of the BJP for an expansion in the South? Or to add more women voters to its bank. It can also be to align with the Women's Reservation Bill of 2023, which provides a 33 percent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and legislative assemblies of the State. The suspense still remains, but it can likely be a woman.
Nirmala Sitharaman is one of the frontrunners for the BJP National President post
Nirmala Sitharaman, who has been the current Finance Minister of India since 2019, earlier served as the Defence Minister at the Centre, is believed to be a strong contender for the post. Her stronghold in the party and long-standing experience in the Cabinet will increase Sitharaman's chances of being chosen as the National President. Moreover, her being a Tamilian might provide a significant advantage in the upcoming assembly elections of the State.
Recently, Sitharaman also met JP Nadda and BJP General Secretary B.L. Santosh at the party headquarters in Delhi.
D. Purandeswari was also the Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry of India (2012-2014) Andhra Pradesh BJP's Ex-President Daggubati Purandeswari holds incumbency as Rajahmundry MP. She is an experienced leader as well as proficient in multiple languages. Working with many parties in the past, Purandeswari also has a widespread acceptability in the State BJP. In 2009, Purandeswari served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development. In fact, Purandeswari was also a part of the Operation Sindoor delegation, representing India's anti-terrorism stand in European nations, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, EU nations, Italy, and Denmark.
Vanathi Srinivasan is a politician and lawyer in Tamil Nadu
Vanathi Srinivasan has been a part of the BJP since 1993 after practicing law. She has served in various posts since then, being elected as the State Secretary, General Secretary, as well as Vice-President. She was elected MLA from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, after defeating Makal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder and actor Kamal Haasan in 2021. In 2022, Srinivasan became a member of the Central Election Committee, the first Tamil Woman leader to have been. Currently, she serves as the National President of the BJP Mahila Morcha.
Apart from the women leaders, Bhupendra Yadav, Dharmendra Pradhan, Prahlad Joshi, and B.D. Sharma are other contenders for the BJP National President.
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