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BJP Presidents before JP Nadda

Atal Behari Vajpayee was the first for almost five decades before
President of the BJP upon its forma- becoming president of the BJP.
tion in year 1980. Vajpayee became He had played a key role in the
the Prime Minister of India and Ram Janambhoomi agitation. It
his government lasted full term. was during his tenure as party
He is regarded as the moderate President that for the first time, the
face of the BJP. He is also credited BJP became the principal opposi-
with catapulting BJP as the cen- tion party.
trist party that had moved away
from the strident politics of the saffron party then named as Kushabhau Thakre was elected
Bharatiya Jana Sangh. President of the BJP on 14 April 1998.
He had been associated with the
Lal Krishan Advani succeeded Atal RSS since 1942. When the BJP was
Bihari Vajapyee as BJP President in formed in 1980, he was appointed
1986. Advani had earlier served as as a Secretary and in charge of Gu-
President of Bharatiya Jana Sangh jarat, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh
in 1973. During Advani’s time, states before his elevation as party
the BJP saw a shift in its ideology president.
from a moderate party to a party
focussing on Hindutva. His aggres- Bangaru Laxman was the first Dalit
sive campaigning helped the BJP president of the BJP. At the age of 12,
become the largest party in Lok Sabha. He also became in 1953, he had joined the RSS and
Deputy Prime Minister. The Rath Yatra brought out by held several organizational respon-
Advani in 1990 adopted hardline approach. He became party sibilities and became active mem-
president for the second tenure. He also became BJP Presi- ber of Jan Sangh in 1969. He served
dent for the third time after Venkaiah Naidu resigned after in the Council of Ministers as Min-
2004 elections. ister of State for Planning, Statistics
and Programme Implementation
Murli Manohar Joshi became BJP President in 1991 replac- from October- November 1999 and Ministry of Railway from
ing Lal Krishan Advani. He had been associated with RSS November 1999 to August 2000.

its government in three states, while in lower level. In Maharashtra, Haryana
Maharashtra and Jharkhand it has become Nadda is a product of JP and Jharkhand, BJP’s chief ministerial
a part of the government with allies. The movement. His political selection has raised questions.
BJP has lost all these states. In Delhi too, the Despite declaring Devendra Fad-
biggest challenge is facing the BJP, in such journey started in the navis as the chief minister in Maha-
a situation, the challenges of Nadda are year 1975 only when the rashtra, the party’s seats fell in the as-
really huge. sembly elections.
JP movement shook the The party also lost its government.
t one time, the Congress had so Fadnavis was sworn in with NCP leader
weak in states as an organization politics of the country. Ajit Pawar without ensuring majority.
A and had started losing seats in the Nadda participated in this This has given a big blow to the party’s
Lok Sabha elections as well. The BJP can’t image.
afford to allow slide in its popularity and movement as a student. Another important thing is to de-
winnability. Nadda will have to keep a sharp Soon after, he joined ABVP, cide the Chief Minister in the states. In
eye on it. He will have to get out of the com- Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand,
fort zone and listen to the workers at the a student wing of BJP BJP’s chief ministerial selection has not

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