Sri Vijaya Puram, Sept. 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Jai Prakash as its new Prabhari for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, replacing Raghunath Kulkarni, who had been overseeing the party’s organisational affairs in the Union Territory.
The appointment was announced on Wednesday as part of the BJP’s latest organisational reshuffle covering States and Union Territories. According to the new list, Jai Prakash has been assigned charge of Andaman and Nicobar with no co-Prabhari named alongside him. The appointments take effect immediately.
Jai Prakash is currently a BJP National Secretary, having been appointed to the party’s national team in August 2026 under National President Nitin Nabin. He was among 16 leaders appointed as national secretaries in the reshuffle of the party’s national office-bearers.
His new assignment gives him responsibility for coordinating the BJP’s organisational affairs in the islands and working with the local party leadership.
What is a BJP Prabhari?
A Prabhari, or party in-charge, is a leader appointed by the BJP’s central leadership to oversee the organisation’s functioning in a particular State or Union Territory. The role broadly involves coordination between the national leadership and the local party organisation, reviewing organisational work, communicating central decisions and overseeing party programmes and activities.
The Prabhari is distinct from the State BJP president. In Andaman and Nicobar, Anil Kumar Tiwari is the State BJP president, while the Prabhari serves as the link between the national leadership and the Union Territory organisation.
Kulkarni’s Tenure
Jai Prakash succeeds Raghunath Kulkarni, who had served as the BJP’s National Prabhari for Andaman and Nicobar since his appointment in July 2024.
During his tenure, Kulkarni was involved in several organisational programmes across the islands. In September 2025, he visited Great Nicobar, where he interacted with BJP workers, PRI members and residents, accompanied by State BJP president Anil Kumar Tiwari.
In June 2026, Kulkarni, along with Tiwari, met then Lieutenant Governor Admiral D.K. Joshi at Lok Niwas. The meeting included discussions on major development projects in the islands, including the International Container Transshipment Terminal, new greenfield airports, Great Nicobar Island township and the Deep Water Port.
Kulkarni had also been involved in the BJP’s organisational decisions in the islands. In September 2025, his approval was cited in connection with the appointment of five Morcha presidents for the Andaman and Nicobar BJP.
The appointment of Jai Prakash now marks a change in the BJP’s central organisational leadership for the islands, with the new Prabhari taking charge alongside the existing local party leadership.
