BJP May Get Its First Woman President; Nirmala Sitharaman, D Purandeswari Among Frontrunners

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may be set for a historic organisational shift, with strong indications that the party could appoint its first-ever woman national president to succeed JP Nadda. According to top party sources, the leadership is seriously considering this move as it undergoes a major reshuffle following the recent Lok Sabha elections.

The race for the top post is reportedly being led by three prominent women leaders from southern India: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Andhra Pradesh unit chief D. Purandeswari, and BJP Mahila Morcha National President Vanathi Srinivasan.

JP Nadda, who took charge in 2020, was given an extension to steer the party through the 2024 general elections. With that period now over, the process to find his successor has gained momentum.

Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is seen as a powerful contender for the role. Her extensive experience in key cabinet positions, including finance and defence, coupled with her roots in Tamil Nadu, is considered a major advantage as the BJP intensifies its focus on expanding its footprint in the southern states. She recently held a meeting with JP Nadda and BJP General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh, fueling further speculation.

Also in the running is D. Purandeswari, who has served as the party’s Andhra Pradesh chief. Her political acumen and recent inclusion in the government’s “Operation Sindoor” delegation, which represented India’s anti-terrorism stance globally, have raised her profile significantly.

The third probable name is Vanathi Srinivasan, the national president of the BJP’s women’s wing. A lawyer-turned-politician from Tamil Nadu, Srinivasan rose to prominence after defeating actor-politician Kamal Haasan in the 2021 state assembly elections from the Coimbatore (South) constituency.

Party insiders believe that appointing a woman as the national president would be a powerful strategic move. It would not only acknowledge the crucial role of women voters in the BJP’s recent electoral successes but also send a strong message of alignment with the Women’s Reservation Bill, which the party championed in Parliament last year.