Senior BJP leader and Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary is likely to be named the next president of the Uttar Pradesh BJP, with party sources indicating that his election is almost certain. The nomination process is expected to be completed on Saturday, and an informal announcement could be made by the afternoon if no other candidate files papers.
Sources said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is likely to be the proposer for Chaudhary’s nomination. With little indication of a contest, the party may finalise the name on the same day if only one nomination is filed.
While a few other names, including Union minister of state BL Verma and former MP Niranjan Jyoti, were earlier considered to be in the race, sources said the possibility of alternative nominations now appears limited.
The formal announcement of the new UP BJP chief is likely to be made on Sunday afternoon at a party event in Lucknow, where the names of national council members, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, are also expected to be announced.
The BJP has maintained suspense around the appointment, giving it the shape of a political event. Sources said the party has already decided to appoint an OBC leader as the state president, in line with its broader political strategy in Uttar Pradesh.
Chaudhary, a seven-time MP from Maharajganj and a leader from the OBC Kurmi community, is seen as a significant choice ahead of upcoming political challenges. The BJP faced noticeable discontent among OBC groups, particularly Kurmis, during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and the leadership change is being viewed as an attempt to address that sentiment.
However, the likely appointment has also triggered discussions within political circles as both the chief minister and the proposed state president would hail from neighbouring districts — Gorakhpur and Maharajganj — in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
An official confirmation is awaited as the nomination process concludes later in the day.
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Published By:
Priyanka Kumari
Published On:
Dec 13, 2025
