Sri Vijaya Puram, June 29 — A high-stakes contest is unfolding within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as multiple aspirants prepare to contest the July 1 elections for the posts of State President and National Council Member. The outcome of this leadership transition is expected to shape the party’s organisational structure and electoral strategy across the archipelago.
Among the front-runners is Anil Tiwari, a businessman who made a fortune running a land business and is said to enjoy strong ties with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP’s central leadership, including national incharge Raghunath Kulkarni. While his political network in Delhi appears formidable, insiders suggest Tiwari lacks widespread grassroots support in Andaman and Nicobar among party cadres and the general population.
Another serious name is Sanjay Singh, a known figure from Campbell Bay with a political background in the Congress Party. Having aligned with the BJP some years ago, Singh’s ideological shift has raised eyebrows within sections of the party, especially among veterans who value ideological consistency. His acceptability within the cadre remains uncertain.
Suniti Haldar, a party loyalist from Diglipur, is also said to be exploring a bid. Despite her long association with the BJP, her influence is viewed as largely limited to her home turf, and she reportedly lacks strong organisational backing beyond her constituency.
Meanwhile, Sheela Singh, a former close aide to MP Bishnu Pada Ray, is quietly testing the waters. But her previous shifts in political allegiance have left a trail of scepticism among senior party leaders, some of whom remain wary of her return to the top rung of the local unit. Singh has been inducted in BJP’s national executive.
Another grassroots challenger is Prakash Adhikari, the current Chairperson of the Zilla Parishad. A mass-based leader from the Bengali community with electoral legitimacy, Adhikari’s potential entry could significantly alter the dynamics—especially in the event of a multi-cornered contest. Sources suggest he is actively considering a run.
Amid growing signs of factionalism, Raghunath Kulkarni, the BJP’s national convener (Prabhari) for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is believed to be working behind the scenes to broker consensus. A senior leader from Maharashtra and a close aide to Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Kulkarni is reportedly keen to avoid a contested election that could deepen existing divides.
The leadership vote comes at a time when the local BJP is visibly fragmented, with multiple centres of influence emerging around figures such as former State President Vishal Jolly and other political aspirants. With control of the state unit up for grabs, the outcome of this election could define the BJP’s trajectory in the islands for years to come.
Notably, the BJP has been unable to look beyond the current member of parliament Bishnu Pada Ray, who cofounded the party in the islands in the early 90’s. While, the party did not allot him a ticket to contest Lok Sabha Election in 2019, it was however forced to bring him back in 2024 after an internal survey found that there were questions on the winnability of other candidates. According to sources, Ray was given ticket after the intervention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is not clear which candidate for the State Presidentship Ray endorses.
According to a press release issued by M. Vinod, the State Returning Officer, the election process is being conducted in a “transparent, democratic, and fair manner,” in line with the BJP’s internal democratic ethos. The official election notification and voter list were released on June 29. Nominations will be accepted on June 30 from 4 PM to 5:30 PM at the BJP State Office in Middle Point, Port Blair. Scrutiny will follow from 6 PM to 6:30 PM, and candidates may withdraw between 7 PM and 8 PM the same day. Polling will begin at 10:30 AM on July 1, with results expected later the same day
