Overview
- An official notification by national returning officer K. Laxman sets nominations for Jan. 19 (2–4 pm), scrutiny 4–5 pm, withdrawals 5–6 pm, with polling on Jan. 20 only if required and the winner to be announced the same day.
- Nitin Nabin, 45, the working president and a five-time MLA from Bihar with longstanding RSS ties, is widely reported by party sources to be the likely sole candidate with backing from senior leaders including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
- The national council and other office-bearers have been told to be in New Delhi for the election, with the council expected to meet on Jan. 21 to ratify the result and pass key resolutions, according to party sources.
- News18 reports that Nabin has called a high-level organisational meeting for Jan. 21, less than 24 hours after he is expected to assume charge.
- India Today reports that L.K. Advani and M.M. Joshi do not feature on the voter list this time due to pending organisational elections in states including Delhi, with party rules requiring completed state-level polls for council membership.