BJP's National Executive Vs Parliamentary Board: Understanding The Work Culture Of India's Largest Political Party

The day-to-day operations and strategies is overseen by its ‘National Executive Members, and the ‘Parliamentary Board’ is the supreme decision-making body

The Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) has emerged as one of the biggest political parties in the world. With aspirations soaring high, the BJP has set an ambitious goal of winning 370 seats in the imminent 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Riding the wave of recent victories in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan, the party now commands authority over 12 states across India. The party remains in election mode 24x7 and these strategies are decided by the top leadership of the party. The day-to-day operations and strategies of the party is overseen by its ‘National Executive Members, and the ‘Parliamentary Committee’ bridges the gap between party's leadership and its members holding parliamentary positions. These two bodies are the key arms responsible for the decision-making process within the party.  

BJP’s National Executive In Decision-Making  

The National Executive of the BJP is a body responsible for formulating the party's policies and strategies and overseeing its day-to-day functioning. Comprising senior leaders, including the Prime Minister, party president, and other key members, this executive body meets regularly to discuss and decide on significant issues.  

Recently, 10 party leaders, including many former state unit chiefs, have been added to the party's national executive. The decision-making process within the National Executive is characterised by a top-down approach, with key leaders providing direction and setting the agenda. Besides 80 regular members, the executive consists of 50 special invitees and 179 permanent invitees.  

BJP's Parliamentary Board  

The Parliamentary Board is the highest decision-making body of the BJP, consisting of members appointed by the party chief, with a maximum limit of 11 members. This board oversees the activities of the parliamentary and legislative groups within the party, providing guidance and regulation for all organisational units below the National Executive. 

During the last reshuffle, the party added Sudha Yadav, K Laxman, B S Yediyurappa, Sarbananda Sonowal, Iqbal Singh Lalpura, and Satyanarayan Jatia to its supreme board and dropped Nitin Gadkari and Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

The Parliamentary Board is responsible for selecting the Chief Ministerial candidate before elections and deciding on individuals to be elevated to the position later on. The board plays a crucial role in the allocation of tickets, as its members are also part of the BJP Central Election Committee. By holding the authority to interpret the rules of the party constitution, the board is empowered to make amendments or deletions to its provisions. 

Synergy Between Executives And Board  

While the National Executive sets the overarching agenda and policies, the Parliamentary Board plays the final role in supervising and expanding the party's presence across the country. It is involved in selecting candidates for elections, forming alliances. The board's decisions significantly influence the BJP's electoral success and its ability to maintain a strong national presence. The synergy between these two bodies is pivotal for the BJP's success. Both the National Executive and Parliamentary Committee are integral to the BJP's functioning, but their work cultures differ significantly.  

The Parliamentary board, being the apex decision-making body, exhibits an assertive and directive work culture. The leadership's authority is paramount, and the executive is instrumental in shaping the party's ideological narrative. Complementing the board, the executives takes a more collaborative approach, reflecting the need for coordination within the branch.