Rama Krishna Sangem
Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy is among the probable candidates for the post of BJP national president. Other two prominent faces in the list are union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The stalled process of BJP national president election is likely to resume sometime next week, sources said. Dr K Laxman, the returning officer for the BJP president election is sounded to this extent. Dr Laxman is now in Hyderabad.
As the current president JP Nadda is from Delhi, and the two of his immediate predecessors – Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh – to- are from Gujarat and UP, all from North India, this president post this time is likely to come either to the South or at least central India – MP and Orissa fall in this category. What we come to know is that Kishan Reddy is not willing to take up the post at this juncture. He wants to devote his time more for his coal ministry as well as to the party affairs in Telangana and Andhra.
Presently, Kishan Reddy is the president of Telangana party. BJP national leadership – PM Modi and Amit Shah – are looking for someone who can energize the party in Tamil Nadu where elections are due early 2026 and Karnataka too. Kishan Reddy fits the bill. His association with former vice president Venkaiah Naidu who also led the BJP at national level in dealing wit h Tamil politics may come in handy for Kishan Reddy.
OBC face?
But, if BJP top brass is looking for an OBC face to lead the party at the national level, then the choice may fall on Dharmendra Pradhan or Shivraj Singh Chouhan, both are OBCs. Moreover, the last three national presidents are from forward upper castes – Nadda, Brahmin, Shah, a Baniya and Rajnath Singh, Rajput, this time, Kishan Reddy may not fit the bill as Reddys are a forward community in Telangana and AP. Region or caste, to be decided by the top bras of BJP.
As the PM has decided to go for a caste census in 2027, and the voice of OBCs will be heard loud and clear at the national level, there is every possibility of an OBC being considered for the national president post. Whoever, will become the president will not just oversee many state elections in between, but also may stay till the next Lok Sabha elections in 2029. In case any of these three are considered for the national president post, then there will be a cabinet reshuffle, and someone from their respective states will be inducted.
