Rise of Nitin Nabin: A subtle renewal of the BJP-RSS bond

Nabin's ascent heralds a matured partnership between RSS and BJP's top echelons, blending ideological steadfastness with electoral pragmatism

- SAYANTAN GHOSH

The Bharatiya Janata Party's decision to appoint 45-year-old Nitin Nabin as national working president on December 14, 2025, stands as a landmark in the party's organisational history, symbolising a delicate yet profound renewal in its relationship with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

At an age when many leaders are still climbing state-level ladders, Nabin-born in 1980, coincidentally the founding year of the BJPbrings a youthful vigour combined with deep-rooted ideological credentials and a proven track record far from the corrosive influences of Delhi's power corridors. As a fiveterm MLA from the Bankipur constituency in Patna and serving as Bihar's Road Construction Minister, Nabin has cultivated an image of an accessible, hands-on leader committed to development without the baggage of corruption scandals that have plagued others. His entry into politics was marked by personal loss; following the death of his father, a respected BJP figure who had twice won from Patna West during challenging times against Lalu Prasad Yadav's dominance, Nabin secured a by-election victory on sympathy votes in 2006. However, he transcended that initial wave through persistent nurturing of his constituency, earning trust as an effective administrator.