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BJP set to announce UP president tomorrow, OBC face likely

Union Ministers of State Pankaj Chaudhary and BL Verma and ex-minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti frontrunners for the post

2 min readLucknowUpdated: Dec 13, 2025 02:54 PM IST

Former Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, who is the organization election officer of the BJP’s state unit, said that the nomination papers will be filed from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the party headquarters in the presence of party national general secretary and central election observer Vinod Tawde. (File Photo)

After a long wait, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to announce its party president for the Uttar Pradesh unit on Sunday. A day ahead of the nomination process, BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and also held an organisational meeting on Friday.

Former Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, who is the organization election officer of the BJP’s state unit, said that the nomination papers will be filed from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the party headquarters in the presence of party national general secretary and central election observer Vinod Tawde.

According to party leaders, the central election officer and Union Minister Piyush Goyal will complete the election process on Sunday even as the final name is likely to be clear on Saturday.

BJP sources said that the party has zeroed in on an OBC face to lead the state and the top contender is Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary.

Chaudhary is 7th-term BJP MP from the Maharajganj Lok Sabha constituency of Eastern Uttar Pradesh and is regarded as one from the party “cadre”. He started his political career from Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation. In 2024, he defeated Virendra Chaudhary of Congress by a margin of over 35,000 votes to enter the Union cabinet.

“The way the party leadership is taking Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath also into confidence, we expect that the announcement of the state president would soon be followed by a reshuffle in the state cabinet as well,” said a party leader.

Other frontrunners for the post include Union Minister of State for Social Justice BL Verma and former minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti.

Maulshree Seth

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More

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