BJP Chief Nitin Nabin's First Big Move: Vinod Tawde Appointed Kerala Poll Incharge

In his first major organisational decision as BJP National President, Nitin Nabin on Tuesday announced several appointments for upcoming key elections, signalling a push to strengthen the party’s poll machinery ahead of crucial elections.

Senior BJP leader Vinod Tawde has been appointed the election incharge for the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections, with Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje named as the election co-incharge. Tawde has also been entrusted with the additional responsibility of being the observer for the Chandigarh Mayor election, underlining the party’s confidence in his organisational abilities.

The decision is seen as a big push for Tawde, who has recently handled a major organisational responsibility in Bihar Assembly elections.

In another set of appointments, BJP MP Rekha Sharma has been appointed election co-incharge for the Telangana Municipal and Corporation elections, along with Ashok Parnami, while Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar will serve as the election incharge.

For the Greater Bengaluru Corporation election, the party has appointed Ram Madhav as election incharge, with Satish Poonia and Sanjay Upadhyay named as election co-incharges.

Earlier today, 45-year-old Nitin Nabin succeeded JP Nadda as the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is the son of the late senior BJP leader and four-time Bihar Assembly legislator Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha. He entered politics in 2006 following his father’s death, reportedly after he won a by-election from Patna West.

“Politics is not a 100-meter race,” said Nabin. “In the next few months, elections are about to be held in Tamil Nadu, Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Puducherry, and the demographics of these states are being widely discussed. The changing demographics are altering the situation there, and this presents a challenge for us. However, we are completely confident that the BJP workers, through their struggle and hard work, will lead the BJP to success in all five states,” he added.

Senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outgoing BJP president JP Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and several union ministers, attended the event at the party headquarters in New Delhi.