Jagat Prakash Nadda, BJP's working president, has formally taken over as party chief after he emerged as the only leader in the fray following the nomination process in which his candidature was endorsed by top party leaders.
Senior BJP leader Radha Mohan Singh, who is the incharge of the organisational election process, made the announcement at the party headquarters in New Delhi. Outgoing president Amit Shah and other senior leaders congratulated the Himachal Pradesh leader, who had been serving as the party's working president. He will serve for three years at the helm
Mr Nadda, the number three of sorts in the ruling party, has been elected unopposed since he is the only candidate. Later in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah are expected to deliver a speech as well as formally congratulating Mr Nadda on his elevation.
Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad spoke of Nadda's rise through the ranks and said he has always been an "inspiring" worker. Mr Prasad noted that the leader from Himachal Pradesh worked his way up as an "excellent" organisational leader, be it in the RSS students' wing ABVP or the BJP youth wing, and was also a successful health minister in the first Modi government. "He brings with him an enormous experience, be it as a party leader or administrator," Mr Prasad said, expressing confidence that Mr Nadda would consolidate the great successes the party achieved under Shah.
Mr Nadda, considered an affable and accessible politician, enjoys good rapport with all top party leaders. He is seen as seasoned organisation man, who was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) from his college days before joining the youth wing of the BJP and rising through its ranks. Mr Nadda was also a cabinet minister in the BJP government both in Himachal Pradesh and at the Centre.