New Delhi, Jan 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday elected Bihar leader Nitin Nabin as its new national president, succeeding Union Health Minister J P Nadda. The election took place during the party’s organisational exercise, Sangathan Parv, at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, with Nabin becoming the youngest leader to hold the post.

Following his election, outgoing party chief J P Nadda, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari felicitated Nabin. Addressing party leaders and workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new president and remarked that he would now serve as the party’s “worker,” while Nabin would be his “boss”.

“When it comes to party affairs, I am a worker and Nitin Nabin is my boss,” Modi said, drawing loud applause and sloganeering from party workers present at the headquarters.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the BJP’s internal election process, saying it was conducted over several months in a democratic manner, from the grassroots units to the election of the national president, in accordance with the party’s constitution. Referring to Nabin as a “millennial,” Modi said the new BJP chief represented a generation that had witnessed rapid economic, social and technological change, from the age of radio to the era of artificial intelligence.

Nabin was the sole candidate for the post and was formally elected by the BJP’s electoral college, which includes members of the party’s national council and state councils. Under BJP rules, candidates must be proposed by at least 20 electoral college members from a state and have a minimum of 15 years of party membership.

Meanwhile, the Centre has accorded Z-category armed security to the new BJP president. Officials said the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will provide top-tier protection to Nabin, with armed commandos accompanying him during his travels across the country. The Union Home Ministry had instructed the CRPF to take over his security a few weeks ago following his elevation.

A five-time MLA from Bihar, Nitin Nabin is known within the party for his organisational abilities. He has previously served as BJP in-charge for states such as Chhattisgarh and has played a significant role in alliance-building efforts. As working president, he has been overseeing preparations for upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Puducherry.