The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ushered in a new chapter in its leadership structure with the appointment of Bihar minister Nitin Nabi as its national working president. The Gujarat unit of the party was quick to highlight a significant aspect of this appointment, emphasizing that Nabi, at 45, is the party's "youngest" president. This move, according to the party's messaging, underscores the BJP's unique internal culture where a common party worker can rise to the highest echelons of leadership.
A Historic Day Recalled in Gujarat
Coinciding with this development, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel marked another significant date in the state's political history. On Monday, December 15, 2025, Patel responded to a social media post from a private handle that referenced December 15, 2002. That date was described as one that "changed Indian politics forever," marking the day when the BJP, under the then Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi, secured a landslide victory in the Gujarat Assembly polls by winning 127 seats.
In his post, CM Patel affirmed, "Indeed, a historic day." He elaborated that with that decisive mandate, Modi earned the people's "unwavering trust." Patel stated that the victory reshaped Gujarat's political landscape and, crucially, "laid the foundation for a new era of leadership in India." The private handle had also shared a video from that time featuring Modi with senior party leaders like Venkaiah Naidu and Keshubhai Patel.
BJP Highlights Youthful Leadership and Meritocracy
Returning to the present, the Gujarat BJP's social media post drew a sharp contrast between the age of its new national working president and the leaders of other major political parties. By appointing Nitin Nabi (45), the party positioned itself as a platform for younger leadership. To drive this point home, they listed the ages of several opposition party presidents:
- Mallikarjun Kharge of Congress: 83
- Akhilesh Yadav of Samajwadi Party: 52
- Sharad Pawar of NCP: 85
- Omar Abdullah of National Conference: 55
- Mamata Banerjee of Trinamool Congress: 70
- Mayawati of BSP: 69
- M K Stalin of DMK: 72
Notably, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was absent from this comparative list.
The core claim accompanying this comparison was that the BJP's structure allows dedicated grassroots workers to ascend to top positions, framing Nabi's rise as a testament to this internal meritocracy.
Laying Foundations for the Future
The dual narratives from Gujarat—one reflecting on a historic electoral triumph that launched a national leader and the other celebrating a fresh, young appointment to the party's central leadership—are strategically aligned. They collectively project the BJP as a party with a storied past and a dynamic future. The emphasis on December 15, 2002, reinforces the enduring legacy of Prime Minister Modi's leadership, which began in Gujarat. Simultaneously, spotlighting Nitin Nabi's age and background serves to counter narratives about aging leadership in Indian politics and to attract a younger demographic.
This combination of commemorating a foundational victory while promoting a new-generation leader illustrates the party's effort to balance its established legacy with a forward-looking image. The message is clear: the BJP is an institution built on decisive victories and is committed to renewing its leadership from within its ranks.
