Archive · 18 Aug 2026
BJP rejig revives Irani, replaces social media chief ahead of polls
The BJP is a big political party in India.
It just changed its team of leaders, which is called an organizational reshuffle.
The party wants to look fresh before important state elections.
It brought back Smriti Irani, a famous leader who had been sidelined for a while.
It also changed the person in charge of social media and the leader of its youth wing.
These changes happened after many young people protested.
The young people were upset about exam paper leaks and other issues.
The party hopes the new team will help it win upcoming elections.
Some people say the new team has no Dalit leader and not enough people from the south.
The party president, Nitin Nabin, picked mostly experienced leaders for his new team.
Smriti Irani was inducted as a BJP general secretary, seen by insiders as a rehabilitation ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections.
Amit Malviya was removed as IT Cell and Social Media chief, with leaders saying controversial figures are being sidelined for now.
Tejasvi Surya was replaced by Hemang Joshi as Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha president after the youth wing's perceived failure to connect with Gen Z.
The overhaul follows youth protests linked to the CJP's online following and exam paper leaks, which led to Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation.
The new team includes AAP defector Sandeep Pathak and Congress defector Rohan Gupta, but has no Dalit general secretary and no Telangana representation.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under party president Nitin Nabin
- What
- An organizational overhaul that brings back sidelined leaders, replaces the social media in-charge and youth wing president, and adds new office-bearers
- When
- Timing not specified in the article; the changes come ahead of upcoming state elections in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab
- Where
- India, with youth protests noted at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and other cities
- Why
- To refresh the party after youth protests and exam paper leak agitations, and to prepare for state polls and the 2029 general elections
Party leadership view
Internal critics' view
Purpose of the reshuffle
Party leadership view
The changes are a much-needed refresh for the party ahead of crucial state elections.
Internal critics' view
The changes are an admission that the party could not successfully counter the youth protests online and on the ground.
Team composition
Party leadership view
The new team has experienced hands and signals a new vision under the youngest BJP president, shaping the party toward 2029.
Internal critics' view
There is no special focus on youth or the south, no Dalit representation among the eight general secretaries, and Telangana is not represented at all.
- Party
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- Party president
- Nitin Nabin
- New general secretary
- Smriti Irani
- New youth wing president
- Hemang Joshi
- Ousted social media chief
- Amit Malviya
- Repeated general secretaries
- Vinod Tawde and Sunil Bansal
- States with upcoming polls
- Uttar Pradesh and Punjab
- Context
- CJP protests, exam paper leaks, and resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan