BJP president JP Nadda replaces Piyush Goyal as Leader of House in Rajya Sabha

In April 2024, Nadda was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat. (PTI)

BJP national president and Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda has been appointed as the Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha. Nadda has succeeded Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who now serves in the 18th Lok Sabha representing North Mumbai. Nadda was one of 41 candidates elected unopposed to the upper house in February this year.

Alongside Nadda, BJP nominated Ashwini Vaishnaw, L Murugan, and party spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi for a second term in the recent Rajya Sabha elections.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge continues to hold the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Nadda joins 11 other members of the Upper House who are part of the Union Council of Ministers.

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In April 2024, Nadda was elected as a Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat. He has been assigned the Health, Chemicals and Fertilizers portfolio in the Modi 3.0 cabinet, a role he previously held during the Modi government’s first term before becoming BJP’s working president in 2019.

Speculation had suggested that Nadda might step down as BJP National President after being sworn in as an MP following the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. However, it appears that he will retain his position, which he took over from Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2020. A new BJP National President is expected to be elected in December-January.

(With inputs from PTI)