Congress sharpened its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party after the ruling party named Nitin Nabin as its new president, arguing that the sequence of announcements exposed a hollowed-out internal process that sidelined any genuine contest. The opposition said the BJP declared the outcome first and only afterwards suggested an election would be held, a claim it said undercut the party’s repeated assertions about internal democracy.The remarks came hours after the BJP’s central leadership formally confirmed Nitin Nabin’s elevation, a move that ended weeks of internal consultations and quiet lobbying. The appointment was presented by the ruling party as the culmination of organisational consensus, but Congress leaders countered that the optics pointed to a predetermined decision rather than a competitive exercise.
In a statement circulated to reporters, Congress leaders said the BJP had “perfected the art of announcing results before the process,” adding that the announcement was followed by a procedural explanation that failed to convince even party workers. The opposition’s critique focused on the absence of rival candidates, the compressed timeline and the lack of visible campaigning, which it said contrasted with the BJP’s public messaging on merit and transparency.
Congress also trained its fire on the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, deploying sarcasm to suggest that the appointment offered no scope for scrutiny. Party spokespeople said the CEC appeared “unhappy” because there was nothing to manipulate in a process that, in their telling, had already been settled. The jibe was aimed at reinforcing Congress’s broader narrative that institutional checks have narrowed as political decisions become increasingly centralised.
The BJP rejected the criticism, maintaining that its constitution allows for consensus-based selections and that the process complied with organisational rules. Party functionaries said internal consultations across states and parliamentary wings informed the decision, and that the absence of a contest reflected unity rather than coercion. They argued that leadership transitions in mass parties often follow negotiations rather than public campaigns, particularly when a candidate commands wide acceptance.
Nitin Nabin, a long-time organiser with experience in legislative and party roles, has been projected by the BJP as a steady hand tasked with strengthening cadre mobilisation and electoral preparedness. Supporters within the party say his appointment signals continuity and discipline at a time when the organisation is recalibrating for upcoming political battles. The leadership has highlighted his organisational background and proximity to the party’s central command as assets.
Congress’s response fits into a pattern of sustained pressure on the BJP over internal functioning and the autonomy of constitutional bodies. Over the past year, the opposition has questioned appointments across institutions, alleging that procedures are tailored to outcomes. By linking the party appointment to the office of the election commission, Congress sought to broaden the debate beyond partisan lines and frame it as an issue of democratic norms.
Political analysts note that leadership selections within parties rarely trigger public disputes unless they intersect with larger narratives. In this case, Congress appears intent on using the episode to underline its claim that the BJP’s decision-making has become opaque. The ruling party, for its part, seems content to absorb the criticism, betting that organisational stability will matter more to its supporters than the optics of process.