Pankaj Chaudhary: Seven-time Lok Sabha MP from Maharajganj Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary has become the President of Uttar Pradesh BJP unit.
The move is seen by many a valiant attempt by BJP to consolidate non-yadav votes considering the 2027 Assembly Elections.
Chaudhary was elected unopposed after UP CM Adityanath Yogi endorsed his nomination for the position of UP BJP President.
The political career of Chaudhary started at the local level when started serving as a Member of the Municipal Corporation in Gorakhpur from 1989 to 1991. He served as the Deputy Mayor of Municipal Corporation for a year before being appointed as the Deputy Mayor of Gorakhpur. He became a member of the BJP in 199 and was appointed by the Modi cabinet as the Union Minister of State for Finance.
Caste Dynamics: Pankaj Chaudhary
Pankaj Chaudhary belongs to the Kurmi community, which is classified as the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community. Kurmis are the second largest group after Yadavs among OBC voters in the state. Kurmi voters influence about 30-40 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Their prime areas of impact include Terai, Kashi, Gorakhpur, Awadh and Rohilkhand regions.
On top of this, BJP has also managed to court Kurmi votes by entering into an alliance with Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal (Sonelal).
Outgoing state vice-president Bhupendra Chaudhary is now likely to get a Cabinet berth. An important responsibility is also likely for BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti while some ministers may also be dropped based on their performance.
