Though Narendra Modi is going quite strong and appears all set to win a third term in a facile manner, a battle for succession has already begun in the BJP. The party and the top leaders are already looking at a post-Modi scene. Party insiders claim that there are indications that a four-cornered fight is on for 2024 and beyond.
Since Modi dawned onto the scene as the prime ministerial candidate in 2013, he has become the unquestioned leader of the party. He successfully edged out most seniors and brought young leaders to the top positions. He did deliver for the party in both 2014 and 2019. Barring some miracle, Modi is sure to win another term and is likely to shatter Indira Gandhi's record of being the longest-serving PM.
But, his close confidant and alter-ego Amit Shah is waiting in the wings. He has proved his mettle as a master strategist and deft organiser by delivering stunning victories for the party in several states, including UP, Assam and Kashmir. He has also helped turn the BJP into an election-winning machine. He is being seen as an ideological successor to Modi and being a Gujarati, understands Modi's mind.
Since his re-election as the chief minister of UP, young Yogi Adityanath has emerged as a huge vote-catcher for the party. He has become an icon for the party. Young and in his early 50s, Yogi is seen as the Hindutva idealist and a staunch nationalist. He has pan-Indian appeal and has carefully built an image of a tough task master and a no-nonsense leader. He is being seen as the third major contender for the top slot in the party.
The fourth top contender is Nitin Gadkari, who is earning accolades as the minister for surface transport and infrastructure. In the whole of Modi's cabinet, he is the only one who has carved a niche for himself after Rajnath Singh. Nitin Gadkari's biggest advantage is that he is considered quite close to the RSS establishment in Nagpur.
The future BJP politics in the BJP will depend on who among the four will become the next Prime Minister. As of now Modi is going strong. But, who from among the three will go on to occupy the PM's chair, is the big question. Let's wait and see how things unfold.
Since Modi dawned onto the scene as the prime ministerial candidate in 2013, he has become the unquestioned leader of the party. He successfully edged out most seniors and brought young leaders to the top positions. He did deliver for the party in both 2014 and 2019. Barring some miracle, Modi is sure to win another term and is likely to shatter Indira Gandhi's record of being the longest-serving PM.
But, his close confidant and alter-ego Amit Shah is waiting in the wings. He has proved his mettle as a master strategist and deft organiser by delivering stunning victories for the party in several states, including UP, Assam and Kashmir. He has also helped turn the BJP into an election-winning machine. He is being seen as an ideological successor to Modi and being a Gujarati, understands Modi's mind.
Since his re-election as the chief minister of UP, young Yogi Adityanath has emerged as a huge vote-catcher for the party. He has become an icon for the party. Young and in his early 50s, Yogi is seen as the Hindutva idealist and a staunch nationalist. He has pan-Indian appeal and has carefully built an image of a tough task master and a no-nonsense leader. He is being seen as the third major contender for the top slot in the party.
The fourth top contender is Nitin Gadkari, who is earning accolades as the minister for surface transport and infrastructure. In the whole of Modi's cabinet, he is the only one who has carved a niche for himself after Rajnath Singh. Nitin Gadkari's biggest advantage is that he is considered quite close to the RSS establishment in Nagpur.
The future BJP politics in the BJP will depend on who among the four will become the next Prime Minister. As of now Modi is going strong. But, who from among the three will go on to occupy the PM's chair, is the big question. Let's wait and see how things unfold.