Meanwhile, three names are circulating within saffron circles as potential contenders to succeed incumbent national president J. P. Nadda, who is currently serving on an extension. “Keshav Prasad Maurya, Uttar Pradesh’s Deputy Chief Minister, and Union ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupender Yadav, and Shivraj Singh Chouhan are among the prominent names being discussed,” a senior functionary said on Friday. Of these, Maurya, considered close to both the RSS and Amit Shah, and Pradhan, who served as election in-charge during the Bihar campaign, have emerged as the most prominent frontrunners.

Maurya has been associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the party’s ideological mentor, long before joining the BJP. He is regarded as a “prolific politician” with deep experience in shaping the party’s electoral strategies in Uttar Pradesh and beyond, often delivering favourable results.

Similarly, Dharmendra Pradhan, a Union minister in the current Modi cabinet, has established himself as a highly effective BJP leader, contributing significantly to several of the party’s electoral victories in recent years, including in Bihar. “If Shah crafted the strategy, Pradhan ensured its successful implementation on the ground. Both Pradhan and Shivraj Singh Chouhan could emerge as strong contenders for the post,” a senior source observed.