The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to usher in a new phase of leadership as Nitin Nabin, the party’s national working president, filed his nomination on Monday for the post of BJP national president. With no other contender entering the race, Nabin is expected to be elected unopposed on Tuesday, January 20, making him the 12th national president of the party.

The nomination filing took place in New Delhi in the presence of the party’s most senior leadership, underlining the strong consensus around Nabin’s candidature. Union Minister J P Nadda, who currently holds the position of BJP president, formally filed the nomination papers along with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Several other senior leaders, including Nitin Gadkari, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupendra Yadav and Kiren Rijiju, were also present during the process.

Earlier in the day, a group of BJP leaders submitted a complete set of Nitin Nabin’s nomination papers to K Laxman, the returning officer appointed to oversee the election of the party president. The smooth and uncontested filing reflects the party’s internal unity and leadership’s endorsement of Nabin as the next organisational chief.

According to the BJP’s constitution, the party president is elected by an electoral college comprising members of the national council and state councils. If only one valid nomination is filed, the candidate is declared elected without the need for voting. Since no alternative nomination has been submitted, Nabin’s election is expected to be a formality, with the official announcement scheduled for Tuesday.

At 45, Nitin Nabin’s elevation is being viewed within the party as a clear signal of the BJP’s intent to promote younger leadership at a time when it is preparing for an intense and extended electoral cycle. With multiple state assembly elections on the horizon and the groundwork already being laid for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, the party leadership appears keen on combining organisational experience with generational transition.

Top BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, are understood to have backed Nabin’s candidature, reinforcing the perception that his appointment enjoys broad support across the party’s central leadership. Senior figures such as Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, J P Nadda, Nitin Gadkari and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami were among the dignitaries present at the nomination event, highlighting its political significance.

Nitin Nabin was appointed BJP’s national working president on December 14, 2025, a role that positioned him as the natural successor to J P Nadda. Nadda had taken over as working president in 2019 and was elevated to the post of national president in January 2020. Nabin’s rapid rise within the organisational hierarchy reflects the confidence the party leadership has placed in his abilities and organisational skills.

A five-time MLA from Bihar, Nabin represents the Bankipur assembly constituency in Patna, the state capital. Over the years, he has built a strong political base in the region and has served twice as a minister in the Bihar state government. His administrative experience at the state level, combined with his organisational responsibilities at the national level, is seen as an asset as he prepares to take charge of the party.

Nabin also comes from a well-known political family. He is the son of late BJP veteran and former MLA Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, a fact that has shaped his early exposure to politics and public life. Within the party, however, he is regarded as a leader who has carved out his own identity through sustained grassroots engagement and organisational work.

Ideologically, Nitin Nabin is considered deeply rooted in the party’s core principles and closely aligned with its organisational structure. He has a background in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has historically played a key role in nurturing and mentoring BJP leaders. This association is often viewed as an important factor in ensuring ideological continuity and organisational discipline within the party.

Since assuming the role of national working president, Nabin has been actively involved in preparing the BJP for key state assembly elections. He has worked closely with state units and central leadership to fine-tune strategies for upcoming polls in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry. According to reports, he has travelled extensively, holding meetings with party workers and leaders to strengthen the organisation at the grassroots level.

In Tamil Nadu, where the BJP is challenging the MK Stalin-led DMK, Nabin has focused on expanding the party’s organisational footprint and energising the cadre. In Assam, he has been involved in preparations where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is expected to face a strong challenge from the Congress. These engagements have given Nabin hands-on experience in managing diverse political landscapes and regional dynamics.

Beyond the immediate round of state elections, Nabin is expected to play a central role in shaping the party’s long-term organisational strategy. Over the next year alone, assembly elections are due in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Gujarat. These states represent a significant portion of the BJP’s political base, and performance in these polls will be crucial for maintaining momentum ahead of national elections.

The BJP has also been planning a major organisational reshuffle in preparation for elections scheduled in 2027 and beyond. Media reports have indicated that Nabin has already been actively involved in this process, working on restructuring party units, strengthening coordination between the central and state leaderships, and ensuring better communication with grassroots workers.

Speaking recently about his leadership approach, Nabin said he draws inspiration from his father’s way of working in public life. He emphasised the importance of connecting the “last person” to government development schemes and maintaining a family-like bond with party workers. According to him, these two principles form the core of his political philosophy and organisational style.

As Nitin Nabin prepares to formally take charge as BJP national president, expectations within the party are high. His youth, organisational experience, ideological grounding and close alignment with the central leadership position him as a key figure in shaping the BJP’s next phase. With a packed election calendar and evolving political challenges, his tenure is likely to be closely watched, both within the party and by its political rivals.

If elected unopposed as expected, Nabin’s assumption of office on Tuesday will mark not just a change of guard, but also a strategic statement by the BJP about continuity, renewal and readiness for the battles ahead.