BJP appoints election in-charges for 2026 Tamil Nadu, Assam elections
What's the story
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Union Minister Piyush Goyal and MP Baijayant Panda as election in-charges for the upcoming 2026 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu and Assam, respectively. Goyal, who is the Minister of Commerce and Industry, will be assisted by Arjun Ram Meghwal and Murlidhar Mohol as co-incharges for the Tamil Nadu elections.
Election strategy
BJP's strategy for Tamil Nadu elections
The BJP has been trying to strengthen its presence in Tamil Nadu after winning four seats in the 2021 assembly polls. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) had won the 2021 election, ending a decade-long rule of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). MK Stalin of DMK became Chief Minister, succeeding AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami.
Assam strategy
Panda's role in Assam elections
Panda, who is the national vice president of the BJP, will be the in-charge for Assam. He will be assisted by Sunil Kumar Sharma and Darshana Ben Jardosh as co-incharges. Sharma is a BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, while Jardosh is a former Union Minister. In 2021, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retained power in Assam with 75 seats under Himanta Biswa Sarma's leadership.
Leadership transition
BJP's leadership transition in Bihar
Meanwhile, Bihar minister Nitin Nabin paid tribute to his father, veteran BJP leader Navin Kishore Prasad Sinha, after being appointed the party's national working president. "I will begin the journey ahead with the blessings of my father," he said. Nabin emphasized serving the country first, himself second, as per his father's philosophy and the BJP's ethos.