Why did BJP pick five-time Bihar MLA Nitin Nabin as its new national working president?

The Bharatiya Janata Party has once again surprised political circles by picking a non-popular face for one of its key party roles. The ruling party has chosen Bihar minister Nitin Nabin as its new national working president.

Nitin, a five-time legislator from Patna's Bankipur Assembly constituency, is currently serving as minister for road construction in Bihar's Nitish Kumar-led cabinet. The BJP parliamentary board announced the 45-year-old leader as the party's new national working president on Sunday.

In a notification, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said, "Bharatiya Janata Party's parliamentary board has appointed Nitin Nabin, a minister in the Bihar government, the Bharatiya Janata Party's national working president with immediate effect."

Nabin has held key party posts earlier as well, including as the national secretary of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. Son of veteran Bihar BJP leader Nabin Kishore Sinha, Nitin ventured into politics following his father's demise.

Congratulating the Bihar leader on the appointment, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised him as a "hardworking Karyakarta" and a leader with "impressive record " as a legislator. "Nitin Nabin Ji has distinguished himself as a hardworking Karyakarta. He is a young and industrious leader with rich organisational experience and has an impressive record as MLA as well as minister in Bihar for multiple terms." the prime minister said in a post on X.

"He has diligently worked to fulfil people’s aspirations. He is known for his humble nature and grounded style of working. I am confident that his energy and dedication will strengthen our party in the times to come." Modi added.

BJP president J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated Nitin on the appointment.