JP Nadda is BJP working president, Amit Shah to stay party chief

NEW DELHI: Ending speculation over the appointment of a working president, the BJP parliamentary board on Monday appointed former health minister and senior leader Jagat Prakash Nadda to the post even as home minister Amit Shah will continue to be party president.
Nadda's appointment as working president was on the cards after he was not inducted into the government. Since Shah will need to meet his ministerial commitments, Nadda, as a full time party functionary, is expected to help him with the nitty-gritty of organisational tasks.
"I am confident that under the leadership of Amit Shah and JP Nadda, and powered by the hard work of our karyakartas (workers), BJP will continue winning people's trust and serving our society. We remain committed to building a strong, developed and inclusive India," PM Modi tweeted.

Modi said Nadda is a diligent worker who has risen through the ranks due to his hard work and organisational skills. "Humble and affable, he is widely respected across the BJP family. Congratulations to him on becoming the working president of the party," the Prime Minister added.
Announcing the decision, defence minister Rajnath Singh said, "BJP won several elections under leadership of Amit Shah. But since PM appointed him home minister, Amit Shah himself said the responsibility of party president should be given to someone else. BJP Parliamentary board has selected JP Nadda as working president."
Modi and other parliamentary board members including Shah, Rajnath Singh, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Thawar Chand Gehlot and senior BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Shivraj Singh Chauhan and Ramlal greeted Nadda after his selection as party working president. Hailing from Himachal, Nadda (58) has held several organisational posts at the national and state level.
This will be the first time the party has appointed a working president. After considerable discussion it was decided that Shah's continuance would be required in view of important state elections coming up and the party also announced a membership drive and organisational elections that will keep cadre busy for several months.
Singh said Nadda will remain the working president till BJP's membership drive and organisational elections are over. Process of the organisational elections has already begun as state unit elections are likely next month. As per procedure, it takes four-five months to complete the entire organisational elections.
Singh said the parliamentary board wanted that Shah should look after the party as president until organisational elections of the party are completed. "However, Amit Shah himself urged that as home minister, he can't do justice with responsibilities as party chief and wanted someone to take over after which the parliamentary board unanimously selected Nadda as working president," Singh said.
Nadda was mentioned as a likely party chief in 2014 when Rajnath Singh resigned after joining the Union ministry. However, Shah took over as party president. Nadda has long experience of the party organisation as he was the in-charge of the party headquarters and is a popular figure.
In Video:JP Nadda elected as BJP Working President in Delhi