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The big focus of this episode of Newstrack is on the appointment of Nitin Nabin as the new President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
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00:00Good evening, you're watching NewsTrack with me, Maria Shaquille. The announcement of Nitin Nabeen
00:04as the next BJP chief marks a pivotal moment in the BJP's trajectory. For years, the party has
00:11thrived on a blend of strong central leadership and regional outreach and Nitin Nabeen's elevation
00:18signals a calculated move to reinforce that balance. Known for his organizational acumen
00:24and grassroots connect, 45-year-old Nabeen represents a generational shift, someone who
00:31understands the pulse of the cadre while aligning with the party's national vision. He's a product
00:38of the BJP's youth wing and has served as the National General Secretary of the Bharatiya Yuva
00:45Morcha and as its Bihar state president. During this phase, he was actively involved in youth
00:52mobilization campaigns. Indeed, this decision is not just about leadership, it's also about the BJP's
00:58strategy. At a time when the BJP faces the dual challenge of consolidating its core base and
01:04expanding into new territories, Nitin Nabeen's appointment suggests a renewed emphasis on
01:11discipline, communication as well as on adaptability. His track record in Bihar politics where he
01:19navigated complex alliances and delivered results positions him as a leader who can bridge ideological
01:27rigidity with pragmatic outreach. For the BJP, this could mean a sharper focus on regional narratives
01:34without losing the sight of the national agenda. Expect a more aggressive digital push, tighter
01:41organizational structures and a leadership style that prioritizes consensus building over
01:48confrontation. In essence, Nitin Nabeen's rise is not just a change of guard, it's a statement of
01:56intent. The BJP is preparing for the next phase of its political journey and Nabeen is the face of
02:02that future. Before I bring in the guests to discuss this elevation, here's a report.
02:11From Akaryakarta to Adhyakshi, Nitin Nabeen is BJP's new president.
02:18With this, the Bharatiya Janata Party is signaling a generational shift at the very top. The choice is clear.
02:2637 sets of nomination papers were filed for Nitin Nabeen on Monday for the party president's post.
02:38The BJP parliamentary party also filed nomination papers in favour of Nitin Nabeen and Prime Minister
02:44Narendra Modi is a signatory in that nomination paper. At 11am on Tuesday, nearly 700 representatives
02:53will meet at the BJP headquarters. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be present as the party formally
02:59crowns its new national president at 6pm. At just 45, Nitin Nabeen becomes the youngest BJP president ever.
03:09Why did the BJP choose Nitin Nabeen? Nabeen is dynamic and ideologically rooted. He is a five-time
03:17MLA from Bihar, known for excellent organizational skills. He has served multiple terms as a minister
03:24in the Bihar government. He has done extensive work with the Yuva Morcha and crucially, he has
03:31stayed away from controversy.
03:38The BJP's youth push comes at a critical moment. With Assembly elections due in West Bengal,
03:40Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puduchiri, the BJP is betting on a younger face to energize its cadre and sharpen its electoral pitch.
03:46Nitin Nabeen has big shoes to fill as J.P. Nadda's successor. Since Nadda assumed leadership, the BJP has contested 33 Assembly elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and even the
03:53BGP's youth push comes at a critical moment.
03:55With Assembly elections due in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam and Puduchiri, the BJP is betting on a younger face to energize its cadre and sharpen its electoral pitch.
04:01Nitin Nabeen has big shoes to fill as J.P. Nadda's successor.
04:07Since Nadda assumed leadership, the BJP has contested 33 Assembly elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and even the presidential and vice presidential elections.
04:19In the Assembly polls, the party recorded 19 victories, retaining its key states while snatching Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh from Congress.
04:28Its biggest wins came in Urisha and Delhi, where the party formed governments along with surprise victories in Maharashtra and Haryana.
04:36In the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP tally dipped, but the party managed to form the government with the support of its allies.
04:44Now the question is, what lies ahead in BJP's Nabeen era?
04:48Can the party break new ground in Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala?
04:53And how will Nitin Nabeen tackle the new challenges of Indian politics while shaping the next chapter of the BJP?
05:00We are a report, India Today.
05:03And 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.
05:14Professor Rakesh Sinha, at 45, Nitin Nabeen is the youngest BJP president.
05:19For a party which was found only in 1980, what does this really mean?
05:24Is 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?
05:40You know this is a great moment for Indian democracy.
05:47Because Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made a significant transformation in democratic thinking.
05:55So that young man, Honorable President Neti Nabeen can lead the largest party of the world.
06:04You rightly pointed out that this is also a message for the opposition parties including the Congress party.
06:09There are two regions.
06:11They believe in Generation J.
06:14But that Generation J is confined to their family.
06:17Rahul Gandhi calls himself Generation J.
06:20Tesvi Jado calls himself Generation J.
06:24Stalin's son calls himself Generation J.
06:27But this is a message to the opposition parties and their support base.
06:32General J does not mean confining to the hierarchy in the family.
06:38It consists of the largest support base of the party.
06:41That's why I say that Honorable President Neti Nabeenji is not merely a party president of the young age.
06:48He is a reference point for Indian democracy.
06:54And second point I want to point out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a vision of the developed democracy.
07:02Just like Viksit Bhat, Viksit Lok Tantra.
07:05And that Viksit Lok Tantra means that if you want to transform the country, the young generation must come and they should have confidence.
07:16Indian democracy has been the victim of your lordship.
07:20Indian democracy has been the kind of political jamindari for decades and decades of the people.
07:25And in the name of experiences, in the name of their support base, they used to control the political system across the ideology and political spectrum.
07:35This is the message of the millions of youths of the country.
07:39This enhances the confidence of the people.
07:42If 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?
07:53Another point that is very significant which people generally do not discuss is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that one lakh youths who do not have their political background,
08:07means their family political background, they must be prepared to lead the country in different light from panchay to the parliament.
08:16These are the significant ingredients of the great Modi vision of democracy.
08:22Okay.
08:23I call it the great Modi vision of democracy.
08:24Okay.
08:25Okay.
08:26Professor Rakesh, here is the BJP.
08:27Here is the BJP saying that they are leading by example.
08:32But as someone who understands the history of this party well, give us some interesting anecdote of what does this generational shift mean?
08:43I 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.
08:52Then it was the name of Mr. Nitin Gadkari.
08:55These were names that came out of the blue.
08:57So, 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.
09:06And 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.
09:25You know, Prime Minister Narendra Mohdiji believes in the convention in the party and political party more important is convention than the rules black in black and white.
09:38And you know some anecdotes there.
09:40In 1973, Lal Krishna Advani Ji became the party president in Janasan.
09:46Janasan.
09:47Janasan, yes.
09:48At that time, Atalibihari Vajpayee Ji was a touring personality and after Advani Ji became, Advani Ji was not a national of that structure.
09:56But at that time, he was selected and they got the larger endorsement of the party.
10:01Vijaya Raji, Sindhya Ji, Sundar Singh, Bhandari Ji, a large number of people, Jagannath Rao, Josi Ji were the very touring personalities.
10:08Then the Janasan accepted the new generation, the change.
10:11Amish sahaj ji, he came from Gujarat, he became party general secretary and then took over the party president.
10:17And you see the kind of strength he has given to the party by his hard work and the commitment to the party.
10:26Nobody calls him a person from Gujarat.
10:30He is as dear to the person in Assam and Bihar as dear to Gujarat.
10:35So, I think that party is run by a convention.
10:39And that convention is not necessarily to be discussed in the public and the press.
10:43So, a continuous process of consultation.
10:46And as I believe that Prime Minister Narendra Bodhi Ji had cross-verification of the people.
10:53And in that regard, the Honorable President Nati Naveen Ji has been selected, not because he is only a young person.
11:00He has impeccable character.
11:02And in politics, he is a second generation.
11:05His father was a Malian, a very respected figure in Bihar.
11:10He died after that.
11:13He took not a single black spot in his career.
11:17So, here Prime Minister Narendra Bodhi Ji has set an agenda for next quarter of century.
11:23Not for the BJP only, but for the Indian politics and Indian democracy.
11:29Okay.
11:30Professor Rakesh Sina, since you are saying that the BJP is preparing itself for perhaps Vixit Bharat mission of the Prime Minister which will be for 2047.
11:38My question is, what happens with leaders who are in their 50s and 60s?
11:45If a 45-year-old is now the party president, it is also about ensuring that the chain of command flows properly.
11:56How will that work out?
12:01You know that there is a difference between BJP and other parties.
12:05BJP means a mission.
12:07That mission is not the mission for the power, but the mission for ideological transformation.
12:12Whatever we have done, we find that only 20-30 percent we could achieve in the ideological advancement of the country.
12:21It is not in concern of the ideological advancement of the BJP.
12:24BJP is completely an ideological party.
12:26Our 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 institution,
12:34those institutions, those institutions which were formed by Nehruvian regime, they still carry the legacy of the Nehruvian regime and colonial legacies.
12:45And other thing that you see, the Prime Minister had said two important things in 2025.
12:52Once he said that decolonization of the mind of the Indian mind in the next 10 years.
12:57This is a big agenda for all the ex-colonies.
13:01This is the first time a Prime Minister or a statesman is giving agenda for 10 years, almost after independence, seven decades of independence.
13:13Okay.
13:14This is important.
13:15That is why I say, when a person becomes the party president, you see, Rajnaji is the former party president, Amir Saadji is the former party president,
13:24Nitin Gadkari is the former party president, J.P. Nanda Ji is the former party president, all four party presidents were there.
13:32So it's giving power to the party worker.
13:35A party worker at the grassroot with the modest handling of the people.
13:39I have not met a single person who said that Nitin Navinji had some arrogant behavior.
13:48He is a man with a very modest behavior, very modest approach to the politics and the people.
13:54That's why his selection is being welcomed across the country.
13:58Okay, fine.
13:59Rakesh Sina, thank you so much for joining us.
14:01Joining us now is Ashok Malik, partner and chair of the Asia Group.
14:06Mr. Malik, you have also tracked BJP very, very closely.
14:11Here is a little known Nitin Nabeen from Bihar who has been catapulted to the top job, top post of the BJP.
14:21As someone who has seen previous BJP chiefs in action, what do you see his roadmap likely will be?
14:32Look, yes, this is a generational shift for the BJP.
14:36Somebody from the 40s, the first president of the party born after the party was founded.
14:44That's right.
14:45My understanding is Mr. Nabeen, Nitin Nabeen was born in May 1980.
14:49The BJP was founded, of course, the Jansang existed earlier, but the BJP was founded in April 1980.
14:55April.
14:56So this is, it's a recognition that India is a much younger country, that the BJP is looking ahead.
15:01And I think the BJP deserves credit for that, for trying to undertake that generational shift.
15:08Of course, how well Nitin Nabeen does as president remains to be seen.
15:12Full marks to him, but full marks, full luck to him.
15:16But full marks for the BJP for also taking this decision.
15:19And look, the BJP's had many illustrious presidents, but not all of them have been, within double quotes, well known in Delhi.
15:28And when you say little known, Nitin Nabeen, you actually mean he's not known in the media circles, in the familiar political circles of Delhi.
15:37I think Indian politics, as has been demonstrated in the past 10 years, exists beyond Delhi.
15:43Let me give you one example from the past, from the BJP's past.
15:46The BJP completed a five-year term between 1999 and 2004.
15:51That was the first time the BJP completed a five-year term.
15:54Who was the party president when it won the 1999 election?
15:57Kushabao Thakre.
15:58Kushabao Thakre was a selfless worker for BJP for decades.
16:03A very hard working work person, a party loyalist, who, one of those who practically built the party in the states of Madhya Pradesh and what is today Chhattisgarh, a separate state.
16:16And he built that party from scratch virtually, village to village, Mohalla to Mohalla.
16:22He was a legend.
16:23But he was a legend within the party for party activists, for party loyalists.
16:28He wasn't, you know, well known across the country in circles outside the party.
16:35Yet, he was hugely and deeply respected in the party.
16:39He was seen as an ideal president at a time when the party was moving from being in opposition to being in power.
16:47And he was a stabilizing factor as Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lalkish Naradwani, Bulli Mahno Joshi, that generation moved into government.
16:57So, the BJP has not always had people who are within double quotes, well known in media circles.
17:03So, the BJP has also rewarded party workers, ordinary party workers.
17:07And I see this as part of that tradition.
17:10You have made an interesting point, you know, because the Delhi has also changed.
17:14This is the new, new Delhi as we say now, Ashok Malik.
17:17Very different from the Delhi of the UPA era.
17:22It functions differently.
17:24And here is Prime Minister Modi also sending a message that Delhi is beyond Delhi.
17:29That India is beyond Delhi.
17:31That, you know, he has been receiving heads of states in multiple states across the country, trying to showcase that.
17:38But do you see this, that the first set of tests, litmus test as we are putting out those visuals for Nitin Nabeen as the party president will be upcoming polls.
17:49Or do you think it will not be really something that he will be judged on?
17:53Remember, in 2014, because I have been tracking the party for several years now, sir.
17:59We saw in December of 2014, Home Minister Amit Shah became the BJP president.
18:05By then, he had had the experience also of General Secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh.
18:10Uttar Pradesh in 2014 gave a huge thumbs up to the BJP when Prime Minister Modi became the Prime Minister.
18:17At that time, he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
18:19We have not seen Nitin Nabeen occupy that kind of an important organizational responsibility as well.
18:26So, you really see that this will be the first set of litmus tests?
18:29Or are you of the opinion that it's not going to be so easy for him?
18:33You know, he will be looking for newer territories.
18:36He will be given that task.
18:38Two things here.
18:39One, Nitin Nabeen, from what to my understanding, has been an important part of election campaigns in his home state of Bihar.
18:47Yes.
18:48Also in Madhya Pradesh.
18:49In Shattisgarh.
18:50In Shattisgarh.
18:51Sorry, more recently.
18:52Yes.
18:53I was told Madhya Pradesh too, but perhaps Shattisgarh.
18:55Perhaps you're right.
18:56But let's be fair to him.
18:58He has not been appointed president to be judged on elections that are coming in the next two months.
19:04I mean, if the BJP does not form a government in Kerala, and I don't expect it to.
19:08I don't think anybody does.
19:09I don't think the BJP does.
19:10It doesn't mean Nitin Nabeen has failed.
19:12I mean, that is not how he's going to be judged.
19:15I think his true test will be in how he revitalizes the party organization.
19:20You see, to be a ruling party at a time when much of your talent is in government is very difficult.
19:27It's a challenge.
19:28It's a challenge for the BJP.
19:29It was a challenge for the Congress when the Congress was in power.
19:32It's a challenge anyway.
19:34And to be the president of a party which is in power, where the entire focus is on the
19:39government and the talent that has gone to government, is not easy.
19:43And that is where Nitin Nabeen's real test lies in how he can revitalize the party for
19:48the future, going ahead.
19:51So I don't think you can judge him on, you know, the upcoming state elections.
19:55But yes, over a two, three year period, he will be judged.
19:57Okay.
19:58And he'll be judged on many criteria, including how well the party does in state elections,
20:02especially in states where it is not strong.
20:04Yes.
20:05But he will also be judged on how he can energize the party.
20:09The party has become a little predictable, if I may say so.
20:12And again, there's a good reason for that.
20:15If you've been in power, if there's been a certain inertia, it has set in.
20:18So how you can revitalize the party, what new ideas you can bring in from the grassroots
20:23perhaps, because he's a grassroots worker, people will be looking out for that.
20:27All right, Ashok Malik, thank you so much for joining us.
20:32Tomorrow is an important day for the BJP.
20:35Remember, the man who will be at the helm of affairs from tomorrow onwards is Nitin Nabeen.
20:41And it has been a rise and rise of this man.
20:45Here's a close look at the BJP's new president.
20:48I'm leaving you with this.
20:49I'll be seeing you tomorrow.
20:50Thanks so much for watching.
20:5245-year-old Nitin Nabeen is not just another political leader.
21:13This millennial BJP leader rose to the top job in the party from grassroots politics.
21:22He's a second generation politician of the Saffron party.
21:26Yet he traversed through each step of the ladder in the party to rise to the top.
21:32His is not the story of a parent handing over the mantle under watchful eyes.
21:38Nitin Nabeen's father, veteran BJP leader and former MLA, Nabeen Kishore Prasad Sinha passed away in 2006.
21:49Nitin Nabeen was 25 years old.
21:52He stood in his father's shoes and contested the by-election from Patna West Assembly constituency,
21:58left vacant by his father's untimely demise.
22:01I want to remember my father, Nabeen Kishore Prasad Sinha ji, today.
22:10Because they have given me the knowledge of the leadership.
22:14But in the same way, they have been involved with me.
22:20And I always say,
22:22that I have been involved with my father.
22:26And I have learned from my father's untimely of all people.
22:29I have been involved with my father's fault since the effort to fail me.
22:31I have never seen the rightful for that.
22:33I have ever realized that,
22:36I was thinking about it.
22:39I have just thought my father's fault.
22:40I don't understand my father's fault as well.
22:43Niten Nabeen was born on January 23rd, 1980 in Patna.
23:09His father, Nabeen Kishore Sinha, was a four-time MLA of Bihar BGP.
23:16Demise of his father when he was in his mid-twenties meant Niten Nabeen had to shoulder family responsibilities along with the political legacy.
23:26He was young but not lost.
23:29Niten Nabeen's maternal family helped him build his foundation.
23:34Niten Nabeen started his party work like any other member.
23:37He would put up posters during election season, arrange chairs at meetings, sit with party workers and listen to people's problems in the neighbourhoods.
23:50But gradually he began to gain recognition within the party as a young man who works quietly and does not shy away from responsibility.
23:59Niten Nabeen's
24:25Nitin Nabeen became a prominent BGP leader at a young age.
24:46He is one of those few people who spent his life in strengthening the BGP in Bihar.
24:52BGP report India today.
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