New Delhi: With the BJP president Amit Shah likely to be given a key portfolio in new National Democratic Alliance government, discussions are on who would be the next chief of the saffron party.
Neither Shah nor the party has confirmed the BJP chief's move to the ministry. However, rumours are strong that he would be the second-in command in Narendra Modi's new council of ministers. If that happens, then the BJP would have to choose an experienced party hand who would be accepted by the RSS too. The party would have to find a person who would be able to emulate the Modi-Shah model of functioning.
Surely, Modi and Shah will take a final call on the new BJP chief.
Shah, who took over from Rajnath Singh in 2015, was able to turn the party into an indomitable force in the country. The leadership is of the opinion that Shah's successor should be as hardworking and aggressive as him.
Modi has instructed the MPs to come up with a 1,000-day plan for the NDA 2.0 that includes several initiatives, such as sending an Indian into space. The new BJP chief should be capable of taking the government initiatives to the people and making the party stronger at the grassroot-level.
The names of senior leader J P Nadda, who was the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, in the outgoing government, is doing the rounds. Ram Madhav, who was able to build party's support in several states, and party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya also could be in the race to become the next BJP chief.
Dharmendra Pradhan, who was the petroleum minister in Modi government, is also known for his organisational skills. Party national general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal could also be considered.
Speculations are also rife on whether the BJP would give the party's reins to a woman leader. The BJP has been trying hard to make inroads into the southern parts of the country. If the BJP opts for a woman leader from the south, Nirmala Sitharaman could be considered.
Mission New India
Developmental projects are the focus in the new government’s 1,000-day plan. Doubling the farmers' income in three years is one among them. House for everyone, woman empowerment, job security and digital India also find a place in the plan that is known as Mission New India.