Keeping up with its reputation for springing surprises, the BJP on Sunday appointed Bihar minister Nitin Nabin as the party’s national working president with “immediate effect”.
“The BJP Parliamentary Board has appointed Shri Nitin Nabin, Minister, Government of Bihar, as the National Working President of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The appointment comes into immediate effect,” the official order said, thus putting at rest speculations going on for months now regarding possible successors of the current party president JP Nadda.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Nabin on his appointment.
“Shri Nitin Nabin Ji has distinguished himself as a hardworking Karyakarta. He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as Minister in Bihar for multiple terms. He has diligently worked to fulfil people’s aspirations. He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our Party in the times to come. Congratulations to him on becoming the BJP National Working President,” the PM said.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also congratulated Nabin on his appointment by Prime Minister Modi, party President J P Nadda and the senior leaders of the BJP Parliamentary Board, terming it an honour for every young BJP worker “who works tirelessly day and night”.
“Whether as the National General Secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha, the State President of the Yuva Morcha in Bihar, or the State In-Charge of Chhattisgarh, he has fulfilled every responsibility within the organisation with complete dedication and success. As a five-time MLA in Bihar and a minister in the state government, he has extensive experience working among the people.
Sources said Nabin has been entrusted with the major responsibility, keeping in mind his “organisational experience, strong grassroots presence in Bihar, proven track record as a youth leader, ability to deliver and dedicated party leader and state minister.” Nabin played a key role in the NDA’s strong performance in the recently concluded Bihar elections.
Nabin, 45, will function as the working president until the full election to appoint the next full-term BJP chief is formally held. Till then, Nadda will continue in the post. Incidentally, Nadda was also initially made the party’s working president before he was appointed the full-time chief. The general convention has been that the working president eventually becomes the party president.
Once formally elected, Nabin will be the youngest BJP president.
Considered close to both the RSS and the BJP’s top leadership, Nabin is a multiple-term MLA from Bankipur. He was recently inducted into the Bihar cabinet as minister for road construction. Nabin has been active in student and state politics for close to two decades, being actively involved in various youth movements during his tenure with the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). Known for maintaining a clean public record, Nabin is a “correct blend of grassroots connection and administrative acumen,” say party leaders.
Coming as part of the BJP’s broader push for strategic organisational changes to strengthen its national operations, the move also signals the party’s confidence in Nabin’s ability to shoulder national-level responsibilities, especially in mind important Assembly elections lined up in 2026—West Bengal, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
As someone who inherited his political legacy from his father, Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, Nabin comes from a saffron background. Nabin began his political journey in 2006 when he won from Patna West, later shifting to the Bankipur constituency. As BJYM state president, he played a key role in mobilising the party’s youth wing and contributing to BJP campaigns, including the 2023 Chhattisgarh Assembly elections and the recent Bihar elections. In 2017, Nabin filed a case against the Bihar Congress leader for sedition and questioned his citizenship.