Nitin Nabin takes charge as BJP’s youngest president; PM Modi says ‘He is my boss’

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nitin Nabin on January 20 assumed charge as the party’s new National President, replacing Jagat Prakash Nadda in the high-profile post.

The appointment of 45-year-old Nitin Nabin is seen as a signal of the BJP’s renewed emphasis on organisational strength and generational transition ahead of key state polls this year and next – including in Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Uttar Pradesh- and before the 2029 federal election.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi along with several senior party leaders. BJP chief ministers, national office-bearers, state unit presidents and members of the party’s national executive were also present at the event held in the national capital.

The ruling party on Monday declared Nabin as its sole candidate for the post after the nomination and scrutiny process concluded without any rival contenders. This cleared the path for his unopposed election as the party’s 12th national president.

In a late-night statement, BJP National Returning Officer K. Laxman said that only Nabin’s name remained after the completion of nominations and the withdrawal window, confirming his election by consensus.

PM Modi showers praise

Prime Minister Narendra Modi showered praise on Nitin Nabin, calling the latter a “millennial” who will carry forward the legacy of the party. “When it is about the party, Nitin Nabin is the boss, and I am a party worker,” the PM told BJP workers.

The Prime Minister commended Nabin for successfully completing all duties assigned to him with full responsibility, while speaking about his generation, wherein people heard the news on the radio in childhood and are now well-versed in using AI.

“To put it in the language of today’s youth, Nitin ji himself is, in a way, a millennial. He belongs to the generation that has witnessed major economic, social, and technological transformations in India. He belongs to the generation that received information from the radio in their childhood and is now an active user of AI. Nitin ji possesses both youthful energy and extensive experience in organisational work. This will be very beneficial for every worker of our party,” PM Modi said.

The 45-year-old Nabin is the son of late BJP leader and ex-MLA Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha. He is an undefeated five-time MLA from the Bankipur Assembly Constituency in Bihar.

A millennial is someone who was born between 1981 and 1996. Being born in 1980, the new BJP chief is technically on the cusp of being a millennial.

The Prime Minister further said that the responsibility of the BJP chief is not limited to the party itself, but it is also to secure coordination within the NDA. Calling the party a culture and a family, PM Modi said that the BJP provides a platform for debutants.

“The BJP is a culture. The BJP is a family. Here, we have relationships that go beyond mere membership. The BJP is a tradition that is driven by process, not by position. Our presidents change, but our ideals do not. The leadership changes, but the direction remains the same. The BJP’s spirit is national, because our connection is local. Our roots run deep in the soil. That is why the BJP provides a platform for regional aspirations. It makes them the foundation for national ambitions, and that is why today people from every corner of the country are with the BJP, are joining the BJP, and not only that, anyone who wants to begin their political journey finds the BJP’s entry point to be the best and safest option,” he added.

Later, the Prime Minister was seen feeding laddus to Nabin as he took charge as the BJP president at the party headquarters.

Nitin Nabin won the election to the post of the BJP chief unopposed after emerging as the lone candidate in the organisational poll. He succeeded JP Nadda, who is currently a Union Minister. At the time of his candidate announcement, Nabin held the road and construction, and urban development portfolios in the Nitish Kumar-headed NDA government in Bihar. The 45-year-old later resigned to contest the BJP presidential election.

Who is Nitin Nabin

A five-time member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly, Nabin has also served as a Cabinet Minister in the Bihar government. He is widely regarded for his strong organisational skills and administrative experience.

Born on May 23, 1980, in Ranchi, Jharkhand, Nabin is the son of late Nabin Kishore Prasad Sinha, a senior BJP leader and a four-time MLA from Patna West.

He entered electoral politics at a young age and was first elected to the Bihar Legislative Assembly in 2006 from the Patna West Assembly constituency. Since 2010, he has been consecutively elected from the Bankipur Assembly constituency, winning elections in 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2025.

During his tenure in the Bihar government, Nabin handled key portfolios, including Road Construction, Urban Development and Housing, and Law.

In addition to his legislative role, he has been actively involved in party organisation, holding important leadership positions at both the national and state levels. He has also been entrusted with significant organisational responsibilities in states such as Sikkim and Chhattisgarh.

After assuming the position, Nitin Nabin said the moment is “a moment of resolve” for him and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister.

“Today, I am not just assuming a position. I am accepting the ideology, traditions, and the responsibility of a nationalist movement of this party, and on this occasion, I also pay my respects to all my senior colleagues…Today, 140 crore Indians are connecting themselves with the dream of a developed India and are working to take the country forward,” Nitin Nabin said in his first address after taking charge as the BJP chief.