In an exclusive interaction with India Today, Professor Rakesh Sinha, former MP and author, discusses the significance of Nitin Nabeen’s appointment as the youngest BJP President at age 45. Sinha describes this move as a cornerstone of the 'Great Modi Vision of Democracy,' aimed at dismantling the 'political zamindari' or dynastic control prevalent in Indian politics. He emphasizes that while opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav represent 'Generation J' within family hierarchies, the BJP is empowering grassroots workers. Sinha highlights PM Narendra Modi's goal to bring one lakh youths without political lineages into leadership roles to achieve a 'Vixit Lok Tantra' (Developed Democracy). The conversation also touches upon the party's ideological mission to decolonise the Indian mind and the seamless transition of power within the BJP, citing the presence of four former presidents in the current cabinet as a testament to the party's unique organizational culture and commitment to merit over dynasty.
00:00And joining me first on the show is Professor Rakesh Sinha, former MP and an author and someone who understands the BJP and RSS perhaps much better than most of us.
00:10Professor Rakesh Sinha, at 45, Nitin Nabeen is the youngest BJP president.
00:15For a party which was found only in 1980, what does this really mean?
00:21Is this the BJP sending a message particularly to the grand old party of India, that is the Congress, that they have to really look at Gen Z and that it can be done only if you have a young party president?
00:37You know, this is a great moment for Indian democracy, because Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a significant transformation in democratic thinking.
00:51That is to the young party, young man, Honorable President like Nitin Nabeen can lead the largest party of the world.
01:00You rightly pointed out that this is also a message for the opposition parties including the Congress party.
01:05There are two regions, they believe in Generation J, but that Generation J is confined to their family.
01:14Rahul Gandhi calls himself Generation J, Tershvi Jado calls himself Generation J, Stalin's son calls himself Generation J, but this is a message to the opposition parties and their support base.
01:29General J, General J does not mean confining to the hierarchy in the family, it consists of the largest support base of the party.
01:38That is why I say that Honorable President Nitin Nabeenji is not merely a party president of the young age, he is a reference point for Indian democracy.
01:50And second point I want to point out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision of the developed democracy, just like Vixit Bharat, Vixit Lok Tantra.
02:01And that Vixit Lok Tantra means that if you want to transform the country, the young generation must come and they should have confidence.
02:12Indian democracy has been the victim of your lordship, the kind of political jamindari for decades and decades of the people and in the name of experiences, in the name of their support base, they used to control the political system across the ideological and political spectrum.
02:31This is the message of millions of youths of the country. This enhances the confidence of the people. If they can lead in the field of technology, if they can lead in the field of economy, if they can lead in the field of culture and literature, then why can't they lead in the field of politics?
02:50Another point that is very significant which people generally don't discuss is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that one lack of youths who don't have their political background, means their family political background, they must be prepared to lead the country in different light from panchay to the parliament.
03:12These are the significant ingredients of the great Modi vision of democracy. I call it the great Modi vision of democracy.
03:21Okay. Professor Akeshina, here is the BJP. Here is the BJP saying that they are leading by example. But as someone who understands the history of this party well, give us some interesting anecdote of what does this generational shift mean?
03:39I am asking that question because I was speaking to one of the senior leaders of the party and they were giving me examples of how Venkaya Naidu became the party president one day.
03:48Then it was the name of Mr. Nitin Gadkari. These were names that came out of the blue. So, for all those who were making guesses that who will be the next BJP president, here is someone who is coming from the state which has already been won by the BJP.
04:02And he is, he has been given that role, you know, and at a time when there was a lot of speculation that will the new BJP president be coming from southern part of India because BJP is looking at expanding its footprints in southern part of India.
04:17You know, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji believes in the convention in the party and political party more important is convention than the rules black in black and white.
04:34And even some anecdotes that, in 1973, Lal Krishna Advani ji became the party president in Janasang.
04:42Janasang, yes.
04:43At that time, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji was a touring personality and after him Advani ji became, Advani ji was not a national of that stature.
04:51But at that time, he was selected and they got the larger endorsement of the party. Vijay Raji, Sindhya ji, Sundar Singh, Bhandari ji, a large number of people, Jagannath Rao, Josi ji were the very touring personalities.
05:04Then the Janasang accepted the new generation, the change. Amit Shah ji, he came from Gujarat, he became party general secretary and then took over the party president.
05:13And you see the kind of strength he has given to the party by hard work and the commitment to the party.
05:22Nobody calls him a person from Gujarat. He is as dear to the person in Assam and Bihar as dear to Gujarat.
05:31So, I think that the party is run by a convention and that convention is not necessarily to be discussed in the public and the press.
05:39So, a continuous process of consultation. And as I believe that Prime Minister Narendra Bodhi ji had a cross verification of the people.
05:49And in that regard, Honorable President Natin Navin ji has been selected, not because that he is only a young person.
05:56He has impeccable character. And in politics, he is a second generation. His father was a Malayan, a very respected figure in Bihar.
06:06He died. After that, he took not a single black spot in his career.
06:13So, here Prime Minister Narendra Bodhi ji has set an agenda for next quarter of century.
06:19Not for the BJP only, but for the Indian politics and Indian democracy.
06:25Okay. Professor Akesh Sinan, since you are saying that the BJP is preparing itself for perhaps Viksit Bharat mission of the Prime Minister, which will be for 2047.
06:35My question is, what happens with leaders who are in their 50s and 60s? If a 45-year-old is now the party president, you know, it is also about ensuring that the chain of command flows properly. How will that work out?
06:54You know, there is a difference between BJP and other parties. BJP means a mission. That mission is not the mission for the power, but the mission for ideological transformation.
07:08Whatever we have done, we find that only 20-30 percent we could achieve in the ideological advancement of the country.
07:18It is not in concern of the ideological advancement of the BJP. BJP is a completely ideological party.
07:23Our advancement of the country on the question of majority and minority, on the question of democratic set-up of the country, on the question of transformation in the institutions.
07:33Those institutions, which were formed by the Nehruvian regime, they still carry the legacy of the Nehruvian regime and the colonial legacies.
07:41And other thing that you see, the Prime Minister had said two important things in 2025.
07:48Once he said that decolonization of the mind or Indian mind in the next 10 years, this is a big agenda for all the ex-colonies.
07:58This is the first time a Prime Minister or a statesman is giving agenda for 10 years, almost after independence, seven decades of independence.
08:09This is important. That is why I say, when a person becomes the party president, you see, Rajnaji is the former party president, Amir Saji is the former party president,
08:19Nitin Gadkarji is the former party president, and J.P. Naddaji is the former party president. All four party presidents were there.
08:28So it is giving power to the party worker. A party worker at the grassroot with a modest handling of the people.
08:35I have not met a single person who said that Nitin Navinji had some arrogant behavior.
08:44He is a man with a very modest behavior, very modest approach to the politics and the people.
08:50That is why his selection is being welcomed across the country.
08:54Okay, fine. Rakesh Sina, thank you so much for joining us.
08:57Rakesh Sina, thank you so much for joining us.
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