The recent BJP President’s election surprised many, including party insiders. While the BJP often asserts that any ordinary worker can rise to the highest office, today’s reality appears different. No one can realistically become party president without the backing of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. This is no longer the BJP of the Vajpayee era, where broader consensus shaped leadership choices. For better or worse, the Modi“Shah duo now exercises decisive influence over virtually all major party matters. Even the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, seems to play a limited role in key decisions. Shah’s political stature remains closely tied to Modi’s leadership, and as long as Modi dominates the national stage, alternative centres of authority are unlikely to emerge within the party. While the BJP may continue expanding electorally under their stewardship, excessive concentration of power raises concerns. The party president’s role risks becoming largely symbolic if strategic decisions are predetermined elsewhere. Such centralisation, though efficient, does not sit comfortably with the BJP’s stated commitment to internal democracy and collective leadership.
