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POLITICS

agat Prakash Nadda has become the new president of though the BJP may still be the largest political party in the
the BJP. Nadda, who has reached the party’s top posi- country, but the party has lost last few assembly elections in
tion due to sheer hard work, faces many challenges. states. The BJP was considered invincible till two years
The way the BJP has lost some important states in the ago but it lost the Midas touch during couple of years, it
J last months, the challenge in front of Nadda becomes seems. In Haryana, where the BJP formed the government
even greater. The party will have high hopes from this only three months back, it had to make Jannayak Janta Par-
veteran strategist to brighten up party’s fortunes in upcoming ty as partner in power as it lacked majority of its own. In
elections to Delhi and Bihar state assemblies. Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena, joined hands with its most vocal
Nadda, has taken over the reins of BJP from Amit Shah, critic like the Congress. Later, in Jharkhand too, the BJP had to
who steered party to greater heights. However, of late the face a humiliating defeat. Indeed, it would be a big challenge
BJP has seen some drubbning in few States. Naturally, Nadda before the BJP to manage its allies. In the last few months,
has big responsibility on his shoulders. He has been close to BJP has lost big allies including TDP and Shiv Sena. Many of
both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister BJP leaders have differing views on issues like NRC and
Amit Shah. Both are confident and convinced of Nadda’s some are expressing their displeasure over it.
strategic capabilities, which In Bihar, where assembly
later has also proved from time elections are due later this year,
to time. Little doubt this has led The 59-year-old BJP leader was JDU the partner in the govern-
Nadda to reach top echelons of handpicked by Prime Minister Narendra ment is raising questions about
party. BJP’s recent decisions. Chief
Before the Lok Sabha elec- Modi for the top post after he was part Minister Nitish Kumar him-
tions last year, when he was en- of the council of ministers during the self has clearly stated that NRC
trusted with the responsibility will not be implemented in
of a very important state like Ut- first tenure of Modi as PM. Nadda was any form in Bihar. Nitish’s close
tar Pradesh, he had faced a big the health minister in the first term of aide Prashant Kishore is seen
challenge. Two strong parties to be openly standing against
Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Modi government and after BJP returned BJP’s policies. Their opposition
Samaj Party had joined hands is akin to West Bengal Chief
on the eve of elections. Nadda to power for a consecutive term in May Minister Mamata Banerjee’s
weaved a BJP strategy based 2019, Nadda was made the working opposition to CAA, NRP and
on ground reality and brought NRC. Odisha Chief Minister
the magic results. Many leaders president of the party Naveen Patnaik, who has been
in BJP consider it was possible supporting the Modi govern-
only because of Nadda’s organi- ment in the Lok Sabha and
zational capacity. Rajya Sabha on some issues, is
In 2010, he became the ABOUT PERSONAL LIFE against NRC etc.
National General Secretary of The Chief Ministers of Con-
the BJP. During this time he ◆ Birth: 2 December, 1960 gress ruled states and other
was in charge of several states ◆ Place of Birth: Patna (Bihar) parties are strongly oppos-
including Jammu and Kashmir, ing the new legislations. In
Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, ◆ Father: Dr Narayan Lal Nadda such a scenario, there will be a
Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Rajasthan piquant situation before the
and Maharashtra. In 2012, he Mother: Krishna Nadda (late) BJP to get the Bills passed in
was elected as a Rajya Sabha ◆ Marriage: December 11, 191 1 the Rajya Sabha in the coming
member while in 2014 Nadda days. Nadda himself is a mem-
was appointed Secretary of ◆ Wife: Mallika Nadda (social ber of the Rajya Sabha, so he
BJP Central Parliamentary worker) will have a big responsibility to
Board. form a strong strategy to keep
◆ Education: BA, LLB the party’s allies together.
Challenges before Nadda ◆ Elementary Education: St. The Congress is still the big-
He has been an achiever in gest political opponent of the
the BJP but now faces a daunt- Xavier’s School, Patna BJP. Even though the BJP had
ing task. Nadda now has a ◆ College: Patna College given the slogan of “Congress-
very challenging responsibil- mukt Bharat”, it is proving
ity of running the organiza- ◆ LLB: HPU, Shimla wrong over time. In the last one
tion across the country. Al- year, the Congress has formed

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