SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh BJP Leaders have hailed extension of the tenure of BJP National president, Jagat Prakash Nadda till 2024, saying that the "party would seek a referendum for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections".
Nadda has become the third national leader to become the National President for the second time in a row.
Nadda got extension after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah among other BJP leaders gave their nod at the National Executive held in New Delhi.
Nadda was lying low soon after BJP got an unceremonious drubbing from the Congress in the recently concluded state assembly elections in Himachal, Nadda’s home state.
The people of Himachal rejected the Jai Ram Thakur’s government, 'Rivaaj Badlega' election plank and voted for Congress poll plank on 10 Guarantees. BJP could win 25 seats while 40 seats went to Congress.
Even three Independents also pledged their support to the Sukhvinder Singh Government.
But BJP’s top national body reposed faith in Nadda’s leadership and decided to fight the 2024 Lok Sabha General elections under him to seek mandate for Narendra Modi as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate for scoring a ‘Hattrick’.
Nadda is considered as a close confidante of both Modi and Shah, the top two National leaders, who call the shots in and outside the BJP and Sangh Parivar in the Country.
But back home in Himachal Pradesh, Nadda does not jell well with his "state Party’s rivals" what is termed as “Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal Group” including Union Home Minister Anurag Singh Thakur, when it comes to the state politics”, revealed insiders.
However all BJP leaders including Anurag Singh Thakur seemed to "have buried the old rivalries" for the time being expressing their solidarity with the leadership of Nadda.
But all the BJP leaders in the state have hailed Nadda’s extension, cutting across all "factions or groups".
Among the state leaders hailing Nadda’s extension included BJP state president Suresh Kashyap, leader of opposition Jai Ram Thakur, Former Chief Ministers Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal and Shanta Kumar, general secretary Trilok Jamwal, organization general secretary, Pawan Rana, state incharge, Avinash Rai Khanna, co-incharge Sanjay Tandon, national vice President Saudan Singh, former state presidents and other leaders.
BJP leaders said the way Jagat Prakash Nadda has led the entire party across the nation is an excellent achievement.
BJP has become a strong political organization under Nadda’ leadership, Kashyap said.
In 2024, Prime Minister Modi will seek a referendum from the people of the country for the third time, he said.
Before this big Match, the BJP has to test pitches in nine states in 2023. These elections also play a role in making political perception about the general elections.
“BJP will do well in all these elections under the leadership of Nadda”, BJP leaders claimed.
As far as Nadda's score card is concerned, BJP had contested 120 elections under the leadership of Jagat Prakash Nadda, out of which BJP won 73, the leaders claimed.
The party under the leadership of Nadda has become popular in the country, Kashyap said.
BJP hopes to do well in the coming months and years under Nadda, who is the first leader from Himachal to be elevated as Party President of the BJP at a national level.