Rajasthan's Mannalal Rawat named BJP ST Morcha National President
Synopsis
The BJP's latest national organisational reshuffle hands Rajasthan an outsized role — four leaders, four national posts. Udaipur MP Mannalal Rawat's elevation to head the ST Morcha nationally is the standout: a first-term tribal MP who took his oath in Sanskrit now controls the party's outreach to one of India's largest voter blocs ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Key Takeaways
Mannalal Rawat , Lok Sabha MP from Udaipur , has been appointed National President of the BJP ST Morcha by BJP National President Nitin Nabin .
Vasundhara Raje named National Vice President ; Satish Poonia named National General Secretary ; Rajesh Mangal named National Co-Treasurer .
Rawat won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Udaipur by 2,61,608 votes , defeating Congress candidate Tarachand Meena .
He was the first tribal MP from Rajasthan to take his parliamentary oath in Sanskrit .
Rawat holds B.Sc., M.A., and PhD degrees and previously served as Additional Commissioner in Rajasthan's Transport Department.
The appointments are expected to influence Rajasthan's political balance ahead of upcoming elections.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National President Nitin Nabin has appointed Udaipur Lok Sabha MP Mannalal Rawat as the National President of the BJP Scheduled Tribe (ST) Morcha, as part of the party's newly announced national organisational team. The reshuffle also elevates three other prominent Rajasthan leaders to key national roles, giving the state significant representation in the BJP's central structure.
Rajasthan's Four-Leader Sweep in BJP's National Team
The new national team hands Rajasthan an unusually strong foothold in the BJP's organisational hierarchy. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has been appointed National Vice President, former BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Poonia has been named National General Secretary, and senior leader Rajesh Mangal has been designated National Co-Treasurer. Together, the four appointments mark one of the most concentrated state-level representations Rajasthan has secured in a BJP national team in recent memory.
Who Is Mannalal Rawat
Rawat won the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Udaipur constituency by a commanding margin of 2,61,608 votes, defeating Congress candidate and former Udaipur District Collector Tarachand Meena. He drew national attention shortly after entering Parliament when he took his oath in Sanskrit, becoming the first tribal MP from Rajasthan to do so.
Before entering electoral politics, Rawat served in the Rajasthan government as Additional Commissioner in the Transport Department in Jaipur, resigning from government service upon being announced as the BJP's Udaipur candidate. He hails from a farming family in Chiklad village in the Dhariyavad region of southern Rajasthan and holds B.Sc., M.A., and PhD degrees — an academic profile uncommon among tribal political leaders at the national level.
Political Significance of the Appointments
The appointments have generated considerable interest among BJP workers across Rajasthan, including in Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, and Kota. The elevation of Rawat to lead the ST Morcha nationally is widely seen as the BJP's effort to consolidate its outreach among Scheduled Tribe communities ahead of upcoming state and national electoral cycles. Notably, Rajasthan has a substantial Scheduled Tribe population concentrated in its southern districts, where Rawat's grassroots profile carries particular resonance.
Vasundhara Raje's appointment as National Vice President also signals a recalibration of her standing within the party, following a period of speculation about her role after the BJP's return to power in Rajasthan under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma.
What Comes Next
The new national organisational structure is expected to influence the political balance within Rajasthan as the BJP prepares for its broader expansion ahead of upcoming elections. With four senior leaders now holding national portfolios, Rajasthan's influence over party policy and resource allocation at the Centre could see a meaningful uptick in the months ahead.
Point of View
In effect, managing internal equilibrium while expanding its social coalition — a dual objective that these four appointments serve with some precision.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mannalal Rawat and what is his new role in the BJP?
Mannalal Rawat is the BJP's Lok Sabha MP from Udaipur, Rajasthan, who has been appointed National President of the BJP Scheduled Tribe (ST) Morcha as part of the party's new national organisational team. He won the 2024 Lok Sabha election by a margin of 2,61,608 votes and is notable for being the first tribal MP from Rajasthan to take his parliamentary oath in Sanskrit.
Which other Rajasthan leaders received national roles in the BJP reshuffle?
Three other Rajasthan leaders were elevated: former Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje as National Vice President, former BJP state president and Rajya Sabha MP Satish Poonia as National General Secretary, and senior leader Rajesh Mangal as National Co-Treasurer.
What is the BJP ST Morcha and why does it matter?
The BJP Scheduled Tribe (ST) Morcha is the party's dedicated organisational wing for outreach to Scheduled Tribe communities across India. Leading the Morcha at the national level is a significant role given that tribal voters are a key constituency in several states, including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Jharkhand.
What is Mannalal Rawat's background before politics?
Rawat served as Additional Commissioner in Rajasthan's Transport Department in Jaipur before entering politics, resigning from government service when he was announced as the BJP's Udaipur candidate. He holds B.Sc., M.A., and PhD degrees and comes from a farming family in Chiklad village in the Dhariyavad region of southern Rajasthan.
How will these appointments affect Rajasthan's political landscape?
The appointments are expected to strengthen BJP's organisational presence in Rajasthan and influence the state's political balance ahead of upcoming elections. With four senior leaders now holding national portfolios, the state is positioned to carry greater weight in party decision-making and resource allocation at the national level.
