How Pankaj Chaudhary Became the BJP President of Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: When Newstrack was the first to reveal the name of seven-time MP from Maharajganj district and Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary as a frontrunner for the post of Uttar Pradesh BJP President, it was hard for many to believe. However, once Pankaj Chaudhary filed his nomination papers for the post, his elevation as the state party chief became almost certain. This naturally raised an important question—what is the real story behind Pankaj Chaudhary becoming the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh president?

The question becomes even more intriguing because Pankaj Chaudhary is considered a leader with little direct organisational experience, yet he is being entrusted with the leadership of the BJP in India’s largest and politically most crucial state. That too at a time when the state’s Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath himself comes from the same region.

To understand this, one has to revisit the period when the script for Pankaj Chaudhary’s political rise was being quietly written.

The Script That Began in 2023

The story dates back to 2023, when Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar walked out of the NDA and aligned himself with the INDIA bloc. This political realignment prompted BJP’s top leadership to think strategically about countering Nitish Kumar’s influence, particularly among the Kurmi community, his core support base.

At that time, BJP leaders felt the need to project a strong Kurmi face of their own, and the name that emerged prominently was that of Pankaj Chaudhary, a seven-time MP with a clean image. His long, controversy-free political career appealed to the BJP’s Delhi leadership.

However, the strategists were also aware of the potential risks. Pankaj Chaudhary’s relationship with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has never been particularly warm. Despite this, his name was at one stage even considered for bigger political roles, and there was a plan to project him as a star campaigner in Bihar elections.

As part of this carefully crafted political script, a significant moment occurred when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Pankaj Chaudhary’s residence in Gorakhpur. The Prime Minister’s convoy could not enter the narrow lane where Chaudhary lives, forcing Modi to walk on foot to his house—a gesture that carried strong political symbolism.

Nitish Kumar’s Return and the Script Put on Hold

Following Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Pankaj Chaudhary’s home on July 7, 2023, political signals began to shift. Nitish Kumar seemingly understood the unfolding strategy. On January 28, 2024, he once again left the INDIA alliance and returned to the NDA fold.

With Nitish back in NDA, the BJP temporarily put the Pankaj Chaudhary script on hold, shelving plans to project him aggressively. However, when discussions on the Uttar Pradesh BJP president began, this very script was taken out of cold storage and revived.

Why a Kurmi Leader Became Necessary

Given that Uttar Pradesh has a Chief Minister from the upper castes, it was broadly understood within the party that the state BJP president would come from the backward classes. This triggered a series of marathon consultations within the party, focusing on leaders from Kurmi, Nishad and Lodhi communities.

From the Kurmi community, Pankaj Chaudhary and Swatantra Dev Singh were considered. From the Lodhi community, B.L. Verma and Dharmpal Singh were discussed. Senior BJP leaders also met Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, a prominent face from the Nishad community.

However, the results of the recent Lok Sabha elections significantly altered the party’s calculations. The Kurmi community, which the BJP had hoped to consolidate through its alliance with Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal, largely shifted its support to the Samajwadi Party. As a result, seven Kurmi leaders from the SP made it to the Lok Sabha.

This outcome caused serious concern within BJP ranks. It became clear that the alliance with Apna Dal alone was insufficient to reclaim Kurmi votes. The election results also demonstrated that Anupriya Patel’s monopoly over Kurmi voters had weakened.

Why the High Command Chose Pankaj Chaudhary

In this changed scenario, the BJP high command once again turned to Pankaj Chaudhary. While it is true that he lacks formal organisational experience, he is regarded as a core and ideologically committed BJP leader.

Among current MPs in Uttar Pradesh, Pankaj Chaudhary holds the record for winning the maximum number of elections. Though he may be seen as being launched into the role of state president like a “Skylab experiment”, his political journey is anything but accidental.

He began his political career as a corporator in the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation, steadily rising through the ranks. Over the years, he has been closely associated with senior BJP stalwarts such as L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh, and Ramapati Ram Tripathi.

From grassroots politics to the national stage, Pankaj Chaudhary’s journey reflects a classic “from the ground to the summit” trajectory—one that the BJP leadership believes can help the party recalibrate its social equations in Uttar Pradesh ahead of crucial electoral battles.