The surprise appointment of Nitin Nabin, 46, the relatively inexperienced MLA from Bihar, as BJP working president is the upshot of a long-standing tug-of-war between the RSS and the two-member BJP high command as to who should lead the party. The RSS wanted a president who would keep the Sangh in the loop. Its preference was Nagpur boys Nitin Gadkari or Devendra Fadnavis, or a senior leader of stature like Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

Amit Shah’s choice was ministers Dharmendra Pradhan or Bhupendra Yadav, both in their 50s, who proved their mettle as his efficient deputies in challenging Assembly polls. The name of G Kishan Reddy, Shah’s former deputy, also came up. J P Nadda overstayed as party chief far beyond his three-year term due to the stalemate. Last month, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat met Shah in the Andamans and Nabin’s name cropped up — a choice so random that neither side raised objections.

According to insiders, the idea was that Nabin, largely unknown outside his home........

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