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BJP Poised to Appoint Pankaj Chaudhary as Uttar Pradesh Unit Chief, Eyes 2027 Elections

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is expected to announce Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary as its new Uttar Pradesh unit president at a grand ceremony in Lucknow this Sunday. Chaudhary, a seven-term Member of Parliament representing Maharajganj, is slated to file his nomination papers today, according to party officials.

The high-profile event will be attended by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who is overseeing the UP organizational elections, and BJP National General Secretary Vinod Tawde.

Chaudhary’s appointment is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to consolidate non-Yadav OBC votes ahead of the crucial 2027 Assembly elections. Belonging to the Kurmi community, the second largest OBC group in Uttar Pradesh, Chaudhary’s selection could influence voters in 30 to 40 seats, particularly in the Terai, Kashi, Gorakhpur, Awadh, and Rohilkhand regions. His elevation follows Santosh Gangwar’s appointment as Governor, solidifying Chaudhary’s position as a prominent Kurmi leader within the BJP. The BJP has also strategically allied with Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal (Sonelal) to further court Kurmi votes.

Sources within the party indicate that Chaudhary’s appointment is likely to trigger a Cabinet reshuffle aimed at maintaining regional balance within the state government. The BJP is expected to increase representation from central UP. Bhupendra Chaudhary, the outgoing state vice-president, is reportedly in contention for a Cabinet position, while BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti is expected to be given a key responsibility. Performance considerations may also lead to some ministers being dropped from their current roles.

Pankaj Chaudhary, a seasoned politician with roots in local governance, began his political journey as a member of the Municipal Corporation in Gorakhpur, later serving as its Deputy Mayor. He joined the BJP in 1990 and has since risen through the ranks, culminating in his appointment as Union Minister of State for Finance in the second Modi Cabinet. His political lineage extends to his mother, Ujjwal Chaudhary, who served as the Maharajganj District Panchayat President.

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