Legislator Hemant Kumar Khandelwal has been unanimously elected as the new president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Madhya Pradesh unit, marking a significant leadership transition within the state’s ruling party.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in the presence of senior BJP leaders, including Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jyotiraditya Scindia, and outgoing state president Vishnu Dutt Sharma. Khandelwal, the sitting MLA from Betul, was the sole nominee for the post, and his unopposed election underscores a consensus within the party’s state leadership.
Khandelwal brings with him a legacy of public service and organizational experience. The son of late BJP stalwart Vijay Kumar Khandelwal, he entered politics following his father’s demise in 2007, winning the Betul Lok Sabha bypoll. He later served as Betul district BJP president and was elected to the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 2013 and again in 2023.
A law graduate and businessman by profession, Khandelwal has held key roles within the party, including treasurer of the state BJP and chairman of the Kushabhau Thakre Trust, a party-affiliated think tank. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to balance caste representation within the party, with Khandelwal representing the Vaishya community alongside OBC Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.
The leadership change comes at a time of relative electoral calm, allowing Khandelwal to focus on strengthening the party’s organizational structure ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. His elevation also signals a shift toward greater coordination between the party and the government, as both the chief minister and the state president now serve as sitting MLAs.
Khandelwal succeeds Vishnu Dutt Sharma, who held the post since 2020 and is expected to take on a national role within the BJP.
