The Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to give organisational responsibility to a woman. If sources are to be believed, the saffron party may soon get its president as a woman.
According to reports, Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Andhra Pradesh BJP unit chief D. Purandeswari, and Vanathi Srinivasan are among the frontrunners for the coveted post. It is being said that the RSS is also putting its weight behind a woman’s face for the party’s top job.
Notably, JP Nadda’s term as BJP president ended in January 2023, but the party had extended his tenure till June 2024, to coincide with the Lok Sabha polls. The party is now mulling over having a woman’s face at the helm, one that might be consensually acceptable to a broad section within the party. It has also been reported that BJP president JP Nadda and party general secretary BL Santhosh recently held a high-level meeting in this regard.
Why is Nirmala Sitharaman a strong contender?
Sources in the BJP said that Nirmala Sitharaman possesses the leadership qualities and experience to justify the position, and she is the top contender for the post. The move could strengthen the party’s position in the southern states. It would also reinforce the BJP’s push for 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, which the party plans to implement after the delimitation exercise. Sitharaman has also served as the defence minister of the country and she has good hold within the party.
Who are D Purandeswari and Vanathi Srinivasan?
D. Purandeswari is a former Andhra Pradesh BJP state chief and is currently a Member of Parliament from the Rajahmundry constituency. She was named among the members of the delegation for Operation Sindoor. Meanwhile, Vanathi Srinivasan is a senior lawyer in the state of Tamil Nadu and is currently serving as an MLA from South Coimbatore. She joined the party in 1993 and has served the organisation as state secretary, general secretary, and vice president. She was appointed as national president of BJP’s National Women’s Wing in 2020. In 2022, she became a member of the National Election Committee, and she was the first Tamil woman to hold that position.