No decision yet on appointment of new BJP Gen Secy (Org)

Koul inducted in Regional WC of RSS

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, Sept 27: The BJP high command and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has not yet taken any decision on successor to Ashok Koul as new organisational general secretary BJP for J&K and Ladakh Union Territories after he has recently shown his willingness of getting relieved of the responsibility of the post on account of his age and recurring health issues.

According to party sources no decision has been taken by BJP and RSS national leadership over appointment of successor to Ashok Koul as yet. However, Sangh has inducted Koul into its Regional Working Committee of North India as Executive member which indicates of giving him another responsibility in parent body.

Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp  

Sources said appointing the successor of outgoing BJP general secretary (Org) in J&K and Ladakh UTs may take some time and till that day Koul will continue to function on the coveted post.

It may be recalled that recently on September 24 BJP national president, Nitin Nabin had appointed organisational general secretaries and joint general secretaries for various states and cities in the country but in that list J&K and Ladakh were not touched. However, on the insistence of Koul about relieving him of the responsibility, the BJP leadership and Sangh are looking for a suitable person to be appointed as his successor in two UTs which are politically very sensitive, sources said.

When contacted, Ashok Koul confirmed to the Excelsior ``I have shown my willingness to get relieved of the post of the general secretary (Org) of the party on which I am working for last 15 years now owing to my age and health issues so I requested the High Command to relieve me of this responsibility now.''

It may be recalled that Ashok Koul was appointed the general secretary (Org) BJP in the year 2012 succeeding Ajay Jamwal who had also served the J&K as RSS Pracharak for Kashmir and later general secretary (Org) BJP for about a decade.

However, during the tenure of Koul, BJP emerged victorious in J&K during Lok Sabha elections in 2014 winning both Parliamentary seats from Jammu region and one from Ladakh. Later, party won 25 Assembly seats in the erstwhile State of J&K in Assembly elections held in ending 2014. After sweeping the Assembly elections in Jammu region in 2014, it formed the Government with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State as no party had got majority on its own. It was for the first time in the history of J&K that BJP joined the Government after 1947.

Later, party emerged victorious in 2019 Lok Sabha elections in the State wresting both the Parliamentary seats from Jammu and one from Ladakh. In 2024 elections again, party won both the Lok Sabha seats of Jammu but lost in Ladakh. During the Assembly elections held in ending 2024, party also won 29 Assembly seats from Jammu sweeping the entire region.

The party also swept the District Development Committee (DDC) elections during his tenure held in 2020.