India Today exclusive: BJP may pick its first woman national president

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering appointing its first-ever woman national president, according to sources. Three names from southern India are in contention: Nirmala Sitharaman, current Finance Minister; Vanathi Srinivasan, MLA from Coimbatore South, Tamil Nadu; and D. Purandeswari, former Andhra Pradesh BJP chief. Sources suggest this move aligns with BJP's focus on women voters and the upcoming implementation of the Women's Reservation Bill after the delimitation exercise. The party believes having a woman at the helm will strengthen its outreach in South India and appeal to female voters in the next Lok Sabha elections.