Newly elected BJP National President Nitin Nabin takes charge in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Union Minister and outgoing BJP National President JP Nadda at the party headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, January 20, 2026. ANI photo via Narendra Modi. | Photo credit: ANI
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president-elect Nitin Nabin took formal charge on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) morning, with his elevation seen as a generational leap for the party’s future leadership. The 45-year-old leader spoke at length about integrating young people into the organization and managing expectations among his own cohort.
“On August 15, 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort that he wants to bring one million politically unaffiliated youth into politics. I want to tell the youth that politics is not a shortcut. It is not a 100-meter sprint, but a long marathon,” where success is not determined by endurance and grass, therefore speed is essential, but grass. he said. “The youth of this country must understand that distancing oneself from politics is not the answer, the only answer is active participation,” he added.
Mr. Nabin referred to the BJP’s “watchtower” surveillance system, under which party workers are monitored and marked for higher responsibilities. The remarks are seen as signaling the possible direction of organizational meetings under his leadership as he sets about assembling a new team.
Mr Nabin’s election is also seen as a continuation of the generational change started under former party president JP Naddy, during whose tenure efforts were made to reduce the average age of party leadership from the district level upwards to around 45 to 50 years. According to organizational surveys conducted at the time, out of 98 organizational districts in the state, only two districts had presidents over 45 years of age. Bihar followed the same pattern, with the average age in its 45 organizational districts being 45 and no official above 50. In Karnataka, which has 36 constituencies, the average age ranged between 39 and 5 years.
A preference for generational change was also evident among BJP chief ministers. Devendra Fadnavis was 44 when he became the Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 2014. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini is 55, while Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was 44 when he first assumed office in 2017. Mr Nabin’s elevation to the top management team could be seen as a younger manager. party for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Mr Nabin has flagged the issue so far and the composition of his future team will be closely watched. His task will be to strike a balance between youth and experience, while managing the expectations and ambitions of contenders seeking space as a result of such statements.
Published – 20 Jan 2026 20:04 IST
