Lucknow: In a calculated move blending caste arithmetic and organisational loyalty, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears set to elevate Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary as its unopposed Uttar Pradesh president, eyeing a strategic edge in the 2027 Assembly elections.
Chaudhary’s nomination has sparked jubilation in Maharajganj and eastern UP, where his deep roots among the influential Kurmi community — a key vote bank shared with ally Apna Dal’s Anupriya Patel —promise to consolidate traditional supporters while striking at the Samajwadi Party’s PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) formula.
Party insiders hail his seven-term MP stature, seamless cadre rapport, and RSS proximity as reasons for this trust, noting his consistent electoral wins despite past setbacks against SP’s Akhilesh Yadav and Congress rivals.
Born in 1964 to Gorakhpur’s industrial family, Chaudhary’s journey from 1989 municipal councillor to Modi Cabinet minister underscores unwavering BJP faith. A highlight: PM Narendra Modi’s unscripted visit to his narrow-lane home during Gita Press’s centenary, amplifying his clout among backward classes.
With CM Yogi Adityanath’s Gorakhpur base complementing Chaudhary’s eastern stronghold, this leadership shift signals Purvanchal dominance.
Local workers, led by Maharajganj Chief Sanjay Pandey, are mobilising in Lucknow for the formal announcement, confident of electoral dividends from this “insider’s masterplan.”