The BDP will be hosting its congress on May 10, 2025 to elect its leadership. While any card-carrying member is free to contest, it is not an automatic guarantee that one will become a candidate if he or she has declared their candidacy. The names of those who want to contest have to be supported on the ground during the congress by their constituencies. If one does not get the support, then chances of contesting are slim. Even if there is no vetting process unlike in the party primary elections, the party encourages that those who are contesting should not have criminal records. According to party secretary-general Ngaka Ngaka, although not stipulated in the constitution but it could ruin the party image if one does contest while his or her image is not impressive. "The party has not experienced that before and we hope, the party will not experience it. The party constitution is quiet about the matter unlike in the process," he said.
In that regard, Ngaka said no one will be disqualified at the party congress for contesting but one may fail in case if he or she does not get support from the floor or the congress to contest. According to the party constitution, article 30; whether the party is in power or not, members of the central committee save for the president shall be elected every two years at the party national congress. Moreover, the constitution says; “separate secret ballot elections shall be held for each of the office bearers other than the president. In each such election, the chairperson of the meeting shall call for seconded nominations from the floor of the congress, and when nominations are completed, shall conduct each election. The nominated candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared duly elected to the post in question.”
