Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary has emerged as the frontrunner for the post of Bharatiya Janata Party’s Uttar Pradesh unit president, with his elevation now appearing almost certain. The nomination process for the crucial organisational position concluded on Saturday afternoon, and Chaudhary was the only leader to file nomination papers before the deadline.
The development has strengthened indications that the BJP leadership has reached a consensus on his name, continuing the party’s tradition of unanimous selections for key organisational posts.
Who Is Pankaj Chaudhary?
Pankaj Chaudhary is a senior BJP leader and a seven-time Member of Parliament from the Maharajganj Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh. Aged 66, he currently serves as the Union Minister of State for Finance in the Narendra Modi government.
Belonging to the Kurmi community, an Other Backward Class (OBC), Chaudhary is considered a prominent OBC face in eastern Uttar Pradesh. According to party sources, he is regarded as a trusted leader by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Chaudhary defeated Congress candidate Virendra Chaudhary by a margin exceeding 35,000 votes, strengthening his political standing within the party.
Political Journey Rooted in Grassroots Work
Pankaj Chaudhary began his political career at the grassroots level. He served as a Member of the Municipal Corporation in Gorakhpur from 1989 to 1991 and later became the deputy mayor of the city. His mother, Ujjwal Chaudhary, has also held a significant public role, having served as the Maharajganj District Panchayat President.
Party leaders have highlighted his long organisational experience and commitment to cadre-based politics as key reasons for his selection.
Formal Announcement Expected on December 14
Uttar Pradesh BJP minister Swatantra Dev Singh confirmed that Pankaj Chaudhary’s nomination is currently under scrutiny. He added that the formal announcement will be made by the party’s central election officer and Union Minister Piyush Goyal on December 14.
Earlier, BJP state election officer and former Union Minister Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey had informed that the announcement would likely be made around 1 pm on Sunday. Party leaders said all procedural formalities are being completed before the official declaration.
Other Names Were in Discussion
Before nominations opened, several senior leaders were being discussed as possible candidates for the UP BJP chief’s post. These included Union Minister BL Verma, former state president Ram Shankar Katheria, Dharampal Singh, and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya.
However, no other leader filed nomination papers, effectively clearing the path for Pankaj Chaudhary’s appointment.
BJP leaders reiterated that the party follows internal democracy and transparency in its organisational processes. While elections are rarely required due to consensus-based decisions, the party had still released the list of eligible voters, underlining its procedural discipline.
With Uttar Pradesh remaining politically crucial for the BJP, Chaudhary’s likely appointment is being seen as a strategic move ahead of upcoming electoral challenges.
