7-time MP, Kurmi face: Who is Pankaj Chaudhary, set to become UP BJP president

Pankaj, 61, is a seven-time BJP MP from Maharajganj in Eastern UP, near Gorakhpur. He landed in Lucknow on Saturday afternoon from Delhi. Sources said the timing of filing nomination papers, which was to start at 1 pm earlier, was shifted following a slight delay in his arrival.

Sitting state president Chaudhary Bhupendra Singh, who reached the party office for the election process, said, “The leadership would be given to a leader who has long experience of working for the party and would be a person from the cadre.”

Former Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey, the organisation election officer of the BJP’s state unit, said filing of nomination papers would continue till 3 pm.

While a formal announcement of the new state president will be made on Sunday, sources indicated that the name could become clear on Saturday as only a single nomination is expected.

Sources said if Pankaj Chaudhary emerges as the winner, it will be seen as a strategic move by the ruling party to counter the Samajwadi Party’s ‘PDA’ campaign, which claims support from OBC, Dalit, and minority communities.

‘Man of the cadre’

A Kurmi leader hailing from Gorakhpur, Pankaj Chaudhary is considered as a man of the cadre. The Kurmi community comprises around 8% of OBC voters in the state and have a significant presence in the Eastern and Central belt of Uttar Pradesh.

In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he defeated Virendra Chaudhary of the Congress by a margin of over 35,000 votes and was given responsibility in the Central Cabinet as Union Minister of State for Finance.

Insiders said Pankaj Chaudhary also enjoys support from the party’s top leaders.

Addressing a public meeting in favour of Pankaj during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Union Minister Amit Shah had referred to him as the most experienced parliamentarian. “Humari party ke sabse anubhavi sansad mein se ek Humare Pankaj Chaudhary hain. Diya leke dhundoge na to bhi aisa sansad nahi milega. (Pankaj Chaudhary is the most experienced parliamentarian of our party. You would not find an MP like him even if you search with an earthen lamp).”

In 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Gorakhpur, had visited Pankaj Chaudhary’s home and spent time with his family. Pankaj had later equated the Prime Minister with Lord Ram and Krishna, while thanking him for the visit.

Meanwhile, ahead of the nominations, BJP General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh arrived in Lucknow a day earlier and held a late-evening review meeting with party leaders and UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Both Deputy Chief Ministers, Brajesh Pathak and Keshav Prasad Maurya, arrived at the BJP office in Lucknow in the afternoon. Along with senior party leaders, BJP National General Secretary and Central Election Observer Vinod Tawde, as well as Union Minister Piyush Goyal, are also expected to attend the process. CM Adityanath is set to reach the party office shortly.