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Mint
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Who are the BJP's 9 new state chiefs? Ravindra Chavan to PVN Madhav
The Bharatiya Janata Party is on a spree of electing presidents of its state units—a process that will lead to the election of the saffron party's new national president, replacing JP Nadda. Since its internal polls started last year, the party has elected as many as nine new state heads and held elections for 28 states and union territories. However, the election of the national president will be conducted only after the successful completion of elections in key states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Delhi, and Haryana, among others. Here are nine new state presidents of the BJP: A four-term MLA from Dombivali, Ravindra Chavan replaced Chandrashekhar Bawankule as Maharashtra BJP president. Chavan has been a minister in the state too and has held several key portfolios, including Public Works, Food and Civil Supplies, and Consumer Protection, in the Maharashtra government. Chavan, 54, who was appointed Working President of the BJP Maharashtra unit in January, is also seen as a close aide of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and has strong backing from the RSS. Chavan's appointment as the state BJP chief in Maharashtra is seen as a strategic move ahead of key local body elections in Mumbai. Former MLC N Ramchander Rao has been elected as the new President of Bharatiya Janata Party's Telangana unit. Rao, 66, replaces Union Coal and Mines Minister G Kishan Reddy, who was elected as the BJP's state unit president in July 2023, replacing Bandi Sanjay Kumar. A senior lawyer in the Supreme Court, Rao has also served as the chief spokesperson and General Secretary of the BJP in undivided Andhra Pradesh. From 2015 to 2021, Rao was a Member of the Telangana Legislative Council(MLC) for Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, and Mahabubnagar Graduates' Constituency. He was also in charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party's membership drive in Telangana. Hemant Khandelwal, the newly elected President of Madhya Pradesh, is an MLA from Betul. Khandelwal has also been an MP from Betul, which was won by his father, late Vijay Khandelwal, four times (1996-2008). Khandelwal, 60, is said to have strong roots in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP's ideological mentor. He is also known to be close to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Khandelwal's election to the top post signals the BJP's outreach to the strong Vaishya community in Madhya Pradesh and its balancing act as the state now has Other Backward Class (OBC) chief minister and an upper-caste state president. Rajeev Bindal has been re-elected for a third straight term as the president of the BJP's Himachal Pradesh unit. Bindal, 70, is a veteran BJP face and a five-time MLA from the hill state. He also served as the health minister in the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led BJP government from 2007 to 2012. Bindal has also been speaker of the Himachal Pradesh assembly from 2018 to 2020. A doctor by profession, Bindal served in Jharkhand under RSS's Vanvasi Kalyan Parishad. Bindal is said to be a close aide of JP Nadda, who also comes from Himachal Pradesh. BJP's new Andhra Pradesh chief, PVN Madhav, will focus on strengthening the party's presence in the ruling NDA coalition in the state, which is allied with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and the Janasena party led by Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan. Madhav is stepping into his father's shoes. PV Chalapati Rao, Madhav's father, was the first BJP state president of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Madhav, 51, is a former Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) and had roles in Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and RSS-affiliated organisations. He has also been the general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh BJP. Mahendra Bhatt, 53, the Uttarakhand chief of the BJP, is a Rajya Sabha MP who has been re-elected for the top post. He first took over as Uttarakhand BJP chief in 2022. Bhatt is the only party chief in the hill state to get a successive term in 25 years. Bhatt is a two-time MLA who began his political career with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the early 1990s. He has also been the BJP Yuva Morcha's state president. With Pushkar Singh Dhami, a Thakur, as chief minister, the BJP has balanced the caste equation by appointing Bhatt, a Brahmin as the party's state president. The saffron party has elected Anil Tiwari as the new president of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands unit. Tiwari, who joined the BJP in 1990, is known for his strong roots in the RSS. In the past, Tiwari has served as the state secretary of the BJP in the Island. In Puducherry UT, the BJP has picked VP Ramalingam, brother of former Congress leader VP Sivakolundhu, as its new president. Ramalingam, 63, is a businessman who joined the BJP in 2021 when he was then nominated as an MLA following the formation of the AINRC-BJP coalition government. The BJP picked K Beichhua, a three-time MLA from Siaha, to lead its party unitin Mizoram in the northeast, Beichhua, 59, has served as a doctor for 16 years and was elected to the assembly from Siaha on a Mizo National Front (MNF) ticket for two consecutive terms in 2013 and 2018. Dr Beichhua joined the BJP in 2023 after his January 2023 expulsion from the MNF. He won the seat. Dr Beichhua is one of the two BJP MLAs in the current 40-member Mizoram assembly. Dr Beichhua has been a minister holding various portfolios, including Excise and Narcotics, in the previous MNF government headed by Zoramthanga.
Indian Express
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Only man in fray, Bindal re-elected as Himachal BJP chief for 3rd term
Dr Rajiv Bindal was on Tuesday elected unopposed as the Himachal Pradesh BJP chief for a third term Tuesday. In the elections held Monday, Bindal was the only party leader to file nomination papers for the post. Formally declaring the results, Union minister Jitendra Singh took a swipe at the Congress. 'In their party, leadership decisions are made in kitchens and over dining tables. In contrast, the BJP follows democratic principles where even an ordinary worker can rise to the top,' Jitendra Singh said. Bindal's reappointment as state unit chief for a third term 'reflects the confidence of the organization in his leadership and ability to strengthen the party at the grassroots,' he added. Hamirpur MP and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur said Bindal's appointment would energize the party. He claimed that if elections were held today, Congress wouldn't win even eight seats in state. He also slammed the Congress government for administrative collapse and internal conflict. Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur too criticised the Congress for failing to appoint office-bearers for nine months and for stalling development in the state. BJP state in-charge Srikant Sharma said the party now has 18 lakh members in Himachal and is committed to making every booth strong under the 'Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot' campaign. Bindal, on assuming the office, called on the party workers to work dedicatedly to oust the 'corrupt and untruthful government'. 'I will work 24×7 with the motto of nation first as the next two years are very challenging,' he said urging workers to pledge unity and rise above personal interests. His mission, Bindal said, is to ensure that 'lotus' blooms in Himachal Pradesh again. He said that due to their commitment to the welfare of people former BJP chief ministers Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and Jai Ram Thakur are remembered as 'Paniwala, Sadakwala and Sewawala' chief ministers. Bindal said the party had led in 61 out of 68 Assembly segments in the recent Lok Sabha polls. He also highlighted the party's organisational achievements, including enrolling 47,000 active members, increasing the number of mandals from 74 to 171, and constituting committees in 7,775 of the 8,009 polling booths in the state. Bindal remained an MLA from 2002 to 2022, serving five terms. He was thrice elected from Solan and twice from Nahan. He served as the health minister in the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led government from 2007 to 2012. He was unanimously elected as the Speaker of the 13th Vidhan Sabha In January 2018, and held the post till January 2020. He also had a brief stint as the state BJP chief before being reappointed in April 2023. Meanwhile, former minister Govind Thakur and party general secretaries Bihari Lal Sharma, Trilok Kapoor, Pawan Kajal, Rashmi Dhar Sood, Payal Vaidya, Rajiv Saizal and Sanjeev Katwal were elected as national council members. Jai Ram Thakur; Anurag Thakur; Lok Sabha members Suresh Kashyap, Kangana Ranaut and Rajiv Bharadwaj; and Rajya Sabha members Indu Goswami, Sikender Kumar and Harsh Mahajan were elected as ex-officio members of the national council.
India Gazette
01-07-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rajeev Bindal appointed BJP Himachal Pradesh state president
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India] July 1 (ANI): Union Minister Jitendra Singh announced the appointment of Rajeev Bindal as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday. Singh expressed confidence that Bindal's vast experience and dedication will strengthen the party's organisation in the state. In a post on X, Dr Singh said, 'Proud to announce Dr. Rajeev Bindal ji as the BJP Himachal Pradesh State President. With his vast experience and dedication, I am confident he will strengthen the organisation and work tirelessly to realise PM Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.' Bindal, was re-elected unopposed as he emerged as the sole nominee for the post. The nomination process for post of BJP president and eight National Council members took place in Shimla yesterday. In the years 2000, 2003 and 2007, Bindal won the Solan Assembly elections. In 2012 and 2017 he was elected from the Nahan Assembly constituency. Previously, he was the health minister in the Prem Kumar Dhumal-led government from 2007-12. He was elected as the Speaker of the Assembly in 2017. He later became the party president. Speaking to ANI in Shimla yesterday, Rajeev Bhardwaj, Member of Parliament and BJP's state election in-charge for the organisational polls, shared details of the development. 'Today, we had to conduct the election for the state president and select eight members for the National Council. The process began, and the nomination window was open from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. During this time, we received only one nomination for the post of state president,' said Bhardwaj.'Three separate sets of proposers supported that nomination. One set was filed under the leadership of Jairam Thakur, endorsed by all MLAs. The second set had support from all MPs under the leadership of Anurag Thakur. The third set was backed by all party office bearers under the leadership of Govind Thakur,' he added. Bhardwaj also noted that several former BJP state presidents and senior leaders were part of the support groups that endorsed Bindal's nomination. He stated that, along with the state BJP president, the election of National Council members has also been conducted, and the process is now complete. 'For the eight National Council members, we received two sets of proposers for each name. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is 5 PM today. The final announcement of the names will be made tomorrow at 11 AM in Shimla, at Peterhoff, under the supervision of the central election observers,' said the state election in-charge. Bhardwaj outlined that the party had initiated the election notification on Sunday, and the electoral college list was also displayed accordingly.'We had published the notification yesterday. The list of electors for the state president's election was also displayed. The nomination and withdrawal phases went smoothly. The entire process has now been completed,' he asserted. Emphasising the BJP's tradition of consensus and unity, Bhardwaj said collective decision-making is important in the BJP. 'The BJP has a tradition of mutual coordination, trust, and collective decision-making. This entire process from nomination to selection was carried out in that spirit, with discipline at all levels.'He further expressed gratitude toward senior party leaders and the organisational election team.'K Laxman was our national election officer. I was appointed as the state election officer, while Sanjeev and Rajeev Saijal were designated as city election officers. I'm happy to report that the process was completed smoothly. I especially want to thank our senior leadership in the state for their wholehearted support,' Bhardwaj told ANI. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Himachal BJP leaders hold protest over FIR against Bindal, others
Targeting the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu led Congress government in the state, former chief minister Jai Ram Thakur accused it of targeting Hindus. 'Sukhu is conspiring to trap people belonging to Hindu society and send them to jail. He is trying to crush the sentiments of Hindutva and humiliate them,' said leader of opposition Jai Ram, during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha at Paonta Sahib in Sirmaur district on Wednesday. The statement was made during the protest organised by the BJP against the registration of attempt to murder case against 100 protestors, including party's state president Rajiv Bindal and MLA Sukhram Chaudhary, after they held protest seeking action against the accused involved in alleged abduction of a 18-year-old. Thakur said, 'The case filed against the Hindu community should be withdrawn. The police and administration should stop working under the protection of the government.' Congress government is harassing rivals: Bindal Bindal said that the present Congress government in the state has been harassing political rivals. Bindal alleged that on the orders of the Congress government, at the behest of local Congress leaders, the police and administration are harassing the people of the Hindu community, arresting them, creating an atmosphere of terror and filing cases of attempted murder against everyone, while not taking any action against those who pelted bricks and because of whom this matter started. 'This is the vote bank policy of the Congress and the atmosphere of the area is being spoiled for its sake,' said Bindal.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Bindal gets interim bail in attempt to murder case
The Himachal Pradesh high court on Tuesday granted interim bail to BJP state president Dr Rajiv Bindal and former minister and sitting Paonta Sahib MLA Chaudhary Sukhram in a case registered under serious charges including attempt to murder. Granting relief justice Virender Singh on Tuesday directed the police 'not to take any coercive action' against Bindal, Sukhram and one Alka Rani. The police have filed a status report before the high court. The case will now be listed on June 24. 'The government to suppress the political opponents have got this case registered as part of political conspiracy,' said Bindal while talking to HT. A day after booking 100 protesters, including BJP state president Rajiv Bindal and Paonta Sahib MLA Sukhram Chaudhary, for defying prohibitory orders and assembling in front of Majra police station in Himachal's Sirmaur, the police have added Section 109 of the BNS (attempt to murder) against the protesters. The section was added after about 10 people, including police personnel, were injured in stone pelting and the head constable was injured with a sharp-edged weapon. The stone-pelting followed protests after a 19-year-old man from Kiratpur village eloped with an 18-year-old woman from different faith in a nearby village under Majra police station limits on June 4. The girl's family had lodged a complaint, but even after 10 days, no action was taken. Some rganisations and local people have been protesting for the last few days, demanding strict action against the 'abductor'. On Friday, they blocked the Nahan-Paonta highway at Majra, about 25 km from Nahan, for about an hour. On Friday evening, as an angry crowd of protesters began moving towards the eloped man's house, locals from the other side resorted to stone-pelting, which the protesters retaliated against. Subsequently, police resorted to lathicharge to bring the situation under control. A 36-hour dharna, led by Bindal in the Majra area, ended on Saturday after the man and woman were traced.
