The BJP on Tuesday announced new state in-charges for Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat as part of a leadership reshuffle ahead of the Assembly elections in 2027.
BJP shuffles party
The appointments come a day after the BJP announced its new national office-bearers, seven months after Nitin Nabin took over as the party’s 12th national president. Earlier reporting noted: BJP reshuffle: Manpreet, Pathak get key roles ahead of Punjab polls Ahead of the high-stakes Punjab assembly elections early next year, the BJP’s new national team announced on Monday has brought three Punjab-linked leaders into strategically significant roles, with former state finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal elevated as national vice-president, Rajya Sabha member from Punjab Sandeep Pathak appointed as national secretary and Tarun Chugh retained as in-charge of the party’s central office. BJP national president Nitin Nabin appointed Vinod Tawde as the party’s in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, with Jagdish Ishwarbhai Patel named co-in-charge. Dr Satish Poonia has been appointed BJP in-charge for Punjab, while Tarun Chugh will take charge as the party’s in-charge for Gujarat. The new national team includes former Union minister Smriti Irani as one of eight national general secretaries, while former national general secretary Ram Madhav has been appointed vice president. Former Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb has also been named a national general secretary. Union minister Piyush Goyal has been appointed treasurer, while Anil Baluni has been retained as media in-charge. The BJP retained only two of its previous national general secretaries, Vinod Tawde and Sunil Bansal, among the eight general secretaries. The party’s new appointments also include Harish Dwivedi, Satish Poonia, Gajendra Patel and Sanjay Bhatia.
Earlier reporting noted: The appointments, announced by party president Nitin Nabin, assume significance as the BJP seeks to expand its footprint in the state and emerge as a serious independent contender across all 117 constituencies. A former finance minister and long-time political figure, he joined the BJP in 2023, hours after quitting the Congress.
Earlier reporting noted: Manpreet’s elevation gives the BJP a prominent Jat Sikh face from the politically influential Badal family at the national level.
