2 weeks ago
Irani, Madhav return as BJP reshuffles office-bearers, drops Malviya, Surya
A big political group in India called the BJP changed some of its leaders.
Smriti Irani, who used to be a minister, got a new important job in the group.
Ram Madhav also came back to a leadership role.
Some people lost their jobs, including Amit Malviya, who was in charge of the group's social media, and Tejasvi Surya, who led the youth wing.
The group wants to connect better with young people, so it picked new people for those jobs.
Piyush Goyal is now in charge of the group's money.
The leader of the group, Nitin Nabin, announced these changes on Monday.
The group says the new team has experience and energy.
Some people think the changes are a response to protests by young people.
Smriti Irani and RSS functionary Ram Madhav returned to the BJP hierarchy as national general secretary and national vice-president respectively.
Amit Malviya was replaced as social media convener by Deepak Mhaskey, and Tejasvi Surya was replaced as youth wing chief by Hemang Joshi.
The new team was announced by BJP president Nitin Nabin nearly seven months after his elevation.
Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal was appointed the BJP's new national treasurer.
The reshuffle is seen as a response to the social-media-driven Gen Z agitation, including the Jantar Mantar youth protests.
- Who
- The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including president Nitin Nabin, returning leaders Smriti Irani and Ram Madhav, and outgoing office-bearers Amit Malviya and Tejasvi Surya.
- What
- A reshuffle of BJP national office-bearers, with new general secretaries, vice-presidents, a treasurer, and a new social media team.
- Where
- India, at the national level of the BJP organisation.
- When
- Announced on Monday, nearly seven months after Nitin Nabin's elevation as BJP president.
- Why
- The changes are believed to respond to the BJP's failure to contain social-media-driven Gen Z agitation, including the Jantar Mantar youth protests.
Party's framing
Critics' assessment
Youth and Gen Z engagement
Party's framing
The party says the new team blends experience and energy and will give new momentum to the organisation, with an expanded social media team to boost engagement with Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Critics' assessment
The reshuffle left the top echelons largely unchanged and reflected no serious attempt at blooding the younger generation; Malviya and Surya are believed to be casualties of the BJP's failure to contain Gen Z agitation.
Women's representation
Party's framing
Party leaders claimed a 'big share' for women in the new appointments.
Critics' assessment
Women's representation rose significantly only among national secretaries, a mid-level position, to 6 out of 13 from 2 out of 11.
Key facts
- Party
- Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
- BJP president
- Nitin Nabin
- New national general secretaries
- Eight in total (up from six); new entrants include Smriti Irani, Biplab Kumar Deb, Bharti Pawar, Sanjay Bhatia, Satish Poonia and Harish Dwivedi; Vinod Tawde and Sunil Bansal retained
- New national treasurer
- Piyush Goyal
- New social media convener
- Deepak Mhaskey
- New youth wing chief
- Hemang Joshi
- Women national secretaries
- 6 out of 13, up from 2 out of 11
- New national secretaries
- Include Sandeep Pathak (AAP defector) and Rohan Gupta (Congress defector)
Quotes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Head of the Indian government
“"This newly appointed team brings together organisational experience, energy, and grassroots connect. I am confident they will give their best in strengthening our party and focussing on public service."”
telegraphindia.com
“"With a blend of experience and energy, this team will give new momentum to the organisation under guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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