The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to name Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary as the head of its Uttar Pradesh division during a grand event in Lucknow on Sunday. According to officials, Chaudhary is set to submit his nomination papers today.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is overseeing the UP organisational elections, along with National General Secretary Vinod Tawde, will attend the event.
Who is Pankaj Chaudhary?
Pankaj Chaudhary has been elected as a Member of Parliament seven times from the Mahrajganj constituency in Uttar Pradesh. The BJP leader hails from a political family; his mother, Ujjwal Chaudhary, was the President of the Maharajganj District Panchayat. He completed his education at Gorakhpur University.
Chaudhary initiated his political journey at the grassroots level, holding the position of a Member of the Municipal Corporation in Gorakhpur from 1989 to 1991. Within this timeframe, he also took on the role of Deputy Mayor for a year. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of Gorakhpur.
Chaudhary joined the BJP in 1990 and was later appointed as the Union Minister of State for Finance in Prime Minister Modi's second cabinet.
The Dynamics of Caste
Chaudhary is a member of the Kurmi community, which is categorized under the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Within the state's OBC electorate, Kurmis are the second largest group following the Yadavs. Representing eight to ten percent of the voters, Kurmis have a significant influence on 30 to 40 seats across the state. Their presence is notably impactful in the Terai, Kashi, Gorakhpur, Awadh, and Rohilkhand regions.
Following Santosh Gangwar's appointment as Governor, Chaudhary has become a key Kurmi leader within the BJP. The party has also sought to attract Kurmi voters by partnering with Anupriya Patel's Apna Dal (Sonelal). In preparation for the 2027 Assembly elections, the BJP is considering appointing an OBC leader as the state president to strengthen support among non-Yadav voters.
Balance between areas
Sources indicate that a Cabinet reshuffle is expected following Chaudhary's appointment to ensure regional equilibrium. The BJP is anticipated to boost representation from central Uttar Pradesh. Former state vice-president Bhupendra Chaudhary might be reappointed to the Cabinet. BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti is expected to receive a significant role. Additionally, some ministers might be removed due to their performance, according to sources.
