By Admin 
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was established in 1980 and since then the party has elected many prominent leaders as its national president. The party started with Atal Bihari Vajpayee and has now reached young leaders like Nitin Naveen. With the appointment of Nitin Naveen on 20 January 2026, a new generation of leadership has come to the party. BJP has seen 12 presidents since its inception. Now let us know in detail…
1. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first national president of BJP. His tenure was from 1980 to 1986. Atal was born on 25 December 1924 in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. He was a member of Jan Sangh and played a key role in the establishment of BJP in 1980. He was a poet, journalist and politician. Atal made BJP a strong opposition party. Became Prime Minister in 1996, 1998 and 1999. Steps like Pokhran nuclear test, Golden Quadrilateral Plan and India-Pakistan bus service were taken. He was elected unopposed. He died in 2018.
2. Lal Krishna Advani
Lal Krishna Advani was the President of BJP thrice (1986 to 1991, 1993 to 1998 and 2004 to 2005). Advani was born on 8 November 1927 in Karachi (now Pakistan). He joined RSS and was a member of Jan Sangh. He came to India in 1947. Advani led the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, which increased the popularity of BJP. Took out Rath Yatra. Was Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister in 1998-2004. Strengthened the party at the national level and was elected unopposed several times. Advani remained the BJP president for the longest period. He was awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
3. Murli Manohar Joshi
Murli Manohar Joshi’s tenure was from 1991 to 1993. He was born on 5 January 1934 in Nainital, Uttarakhand. He was a physics professor and was associated with RSS. Joshi played a big role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. He was the Home Minister in 1996 and Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister from 1998 to 2004. He strengthened the ideological base of the party and was elected unopposed. Murli Manohar Joshi taught at Allahabad University.
4. Kushabhau Thackeray
Kushabhau Thackeray’s tenure was from 1998 to 2000. Born on 15 August 1922 in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh, Kushabhau was a preacher of RSS and a founding member of Jan Sangh. Kushabhau strengthened the organizational structure of the party. Helped form the Vajpayee government in 1998 and maintained the values of RSS in the party. Kushabhau was Bal Thackeray’s cousin.
5. Bangaru Laxman
He was the party president from 2000-2001. Born on 17 March 1939 in Hyderabad, Bangaru belonged to the Dalit community. Joined RSS and strengthened the party in Andhra Pradesh. Bangaru tried to spread BJP in South India. But he had to resign due to the sting operation ‘bribery scandal’. His tenure was controversial and he died in 2014.
6. K. Jana Krishnamurthy
He was the National President of BJP from 2001 to 2002. Krishnamurthy was born on 24 May 1928 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu. He was a lawyer and was associated with RSS. He spread the roots of the party in the South. Was Law Minister in 1999-2004. Krishnamurthy became the first South Indian President of BJP. He died in 2007.
7. M. Venkaiah Naidu
Naidu was the party president from 2002 to 2004. He was born on 1 July 1949 in Nellore, Andhra Pradesh. He started his career with student politics. He was a Rajya Sabha member and was awarded Padma Vibhushan. Naidu was also the Vice President of India from 2017 to 2022.
8. Rajnath Singh
Rajnath Singh was the BJP President twice (from 2005 to 2009 and from 2013 to 2014). Born on July 10, 1951 in Chandauli, Uttar Pradesh, Rajnath was a Physics teacher and joined the RSS. He strengthened the party in the 2009 elections and was also the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He was elected unopposed. He always got a prominent role in the Modi government and is now the Defense Minister of the country.
9. Nitin Gadkari
He was the party president from 2009 to 2013. Gadkari was born on 27 May 1957 in Nagpur, Maharashtra. He became an engineer and then joined the Sangh. Gadkari modernized the party’s organization. Strengthened BJP in Maharashtra and is now the Road Transport Minister. Gadkari was also elected unopposed.
10. Amit Shah
Amit Shah was the party president from 2014 to 2020 (re-elected in 2019). Born on 23 October 1964 in Mumbai, Shah started politics from Gujarat. Led BJP to big victories in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. As soon as he became the Home Minister, he removed Article 370, brought CAA bill and ended issues like triple talaq. Shah was elected unopposed and is still the Home Minister.
11. J. P. Nadda
Nadda’s tenure was from 2020 to 2026. Born on 2 December 1960 in Patna, Nadda started politics with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He remains active in Ranjit from Himachal Pradesh. He kept the party united during Covid-19 and led the party to victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Nadda has also been the Health Minister.
12. Nitin Nabin
Nitin has become the youngest president elected unopposed in 2026. Nitin was born in Patna and father Naveen Kishore Prasad Sinha was a BJP leader and former MLA. He started his career with youth politics. He became MLA for five consecutive times. Nitin’s focus is to connect BJP with the youth. He is trying to strengthen the organization of the party.