In a move that has taken political circles by surprise, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed 46-year-old Nitin Nabin, a relatively inexperienced MLA from Bihar, as its working president. This decision, made in January 2026, is reportedly the culmination of a protracted tug-of-war between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the party's two-member high command over the future leadership of the BJP.
The Stalemate and the Surprise Candidate
The leadership vacuum had persisted as J P Nadda continued as party chief well beyond his standard three-year term due to an unresolved deadlock. The RSS, keen on a president who would keep the Sangh in the loop, preferred seasoned leaders like Nitin Gadkari or Devendra Fadnavis from Nagpur, or a figure of Shivraj Singh Chouhan's stature. On the other hand, Amit Shah leaned towards trusted ministers like Dharmendra Pradhan or Bhupendra Yadav, who had proven their mettle as his deputies in tough assembly elections. The name of G Kishan Reddy, Shah's former deputy, was also in consideration.
The impasse was broken last month after a meeting between RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and Amit Shah in the Andamans. It was here that the name of Nitin Nabin emerged—a choice considered so random and unexpected that neither faction raised objections. Insiders suggest the plan is to first test Nabin, who remains largely unknown outside Bihar, in the role of working president, with a decision on a full-time president to be made later. However, the BJP's media team swiftly announced his appointment, highlighting his youth and non-dominant caste background as positive factors.
Adani's Role in Pawar Family Dynamics
In another significant development, billionaire Gautam Adani is actively working to broker peace within the feuding Pawar family. Last month, Adani inaugurated a new AI educational centre in Baramati, the Pawar family's stronghold, which he funded. His efforts are focused on reuniting the rival Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions led by Sharad Pawar and his nephew, Ajit Pawar.
Adani has held separate meetings with both leaders, proposing a compromise: Ajit Pawar's MLAs would support Sharad Pawar's re-election to the Rajya Sabha in April 2026. In return, Supriya Sule is reportedly open to a formal merger of the NCP(SP) with the NCP(AP), provided her father, Sharad Pawar, is the official head of the united party, even if Ajit wields operational control in Maharashtra and is recognized as the heir. While the factions are already contesting local polls together in districts like Pune, Ajit Pawar has not yet agreed to the latter condition. The BJP values Sharad Pawar's role as a respected mediator within the INDIA bloc.
Discontent and Controversies Within the Congress
The Congress party is grappling with internal disenchantment over several decisions perceived as misguided. In Maharashtra, the party allotted a generous 62 seats to Prakash Ambedkar's Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) for the Mumbai civic polls, despite its diminished political relevance. Ambedkar ultimately had to surrender 20 of these seats due to a shortage of candidates.
In Tamil Nadu, DMK chief M K Stalin is angered by Congress leaders close to Rahul Gandhi criticizing the DMK's fiscal policies, hampering cordial seat-sharing talks. A controversy also erupted in Jammu & Kashmir, where it was revealed during a PIL hearing that one of the three politicians allowed to overstay in government accommodation for seven years was Congress's chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma. These incidents have led to grumbling within state units about possible internal sabotage.
Other Notable Developments
Stamp Shortage: The Department of Posts faced embarrassment after the commemorative stamp for the RSS's centenary celebrations in October saw massive undersupply. Despite 2.06 lakh stamps being printed, they are being sold online for an astonishing Rs 300, far above the usual Rs 10-15, indicating a major miscalculation in demand or allocation.
Gogoi's Outreach: With Assam assembly polls nearing, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi, a trusted aide of Rahul Gandhi, is on a mission to strengthen the party. He recently met Sushmita Dev, who left the Congress for the TMC in 2021 and was rewarded with a Rajya Sabha seat. The Congress is nervous about its position in Assam's Barak Valley despite a sizable Muslim voter base, due to extensive revisions in the Special Revision of the Electoral Roll (SIR).
