Manoj Srivastava :
The real intent behind Pankaj Chaudhary’s elevation in Uttar Pradesh BJP politics—whether to work in tandem with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath or to politically restrain him—will become clear only after the new organisational and governmental team takes shape. However, the decision itself has already triggered intense political discussion across the state.
In a move seen as strategically significant ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have appointed a new Kurmi face to lead the party in the state, overlooking traditional regional balance in the selection of the BJP’s state president. The decision appears to be driven by the party’s concerns following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP suffered notable setbacks in several Kurmi-dominated constituencies.
Although the BJP managed to retain the Maharajganj Lok Sabha seat in 2024, it faced heavy defeats across many Kurmi-influential constituencies, signalling a shift in voting patterns. Seats such as Sant Kabir Nagar, Basti, Shravasti, Ambedkar Nagar, Ayodhya, Barabanki, Fatehpur, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Banda-Chitrakoot, Prayagraj, Phulpur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Sitapur and Aonla are among those where the Kurmi community holds decisive influence. Even in seats won by the BJP, victory margins narrowed sharply, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own constituency of Varanasi. The same trend was visible for Apna Dal (Soneylal), BJP’s ally formed to consolidate Kurmi votes, where party chief Anupriya Patel also witnessed a reduced margin.
Pankaj Chaudhary, a seven-time Member of Parliament from Maharajganj, is regarded as an influential and affluent Kurmi leader with deep roots in eastern Uttar Pradesh. Known to spend considerable time in Gorakhpur, he is believed to have close proximity to the political ecosystem surrounding the Chief Minister, while also maintaining strong influence in the India-Nepal border regions. His appointment is widely seen as the BJP’s attempt to reclaim lost ground among Kurmi voters by projecting a strong and credible community leader.
Political observers believe that Chaudhary’s rise could also recalibrate equations within the NDA alliance in Uttar Pradesh. It is being speculated that his presence may act as a check on the outspoken style of Ashish Patel, minister in the Uttar Pradesh government and husband of Apna Dal (Soneylal) chief Anupriya Patel, whose sharp public statements have often caused discomfort within the alliance.
With this development, Gorakhpur has further consolidated its position as the epicentre of both power and organisation in Uttar Pradesh BJP politics. At the same time, pressure is expected to mount from workers in western Uttar Pradesh, Bundelkhand and the Braj region, particularly during the upcoming cabinet expansion and organisational adjustments, as demands for regional representation intensify.
The road ahead will depend largely on how Pankaj Chaudhary positions himself vis-à-vis the Yogi Adityanath government. If he chooses to strengthen coordination between the organisation and the government, walking in step with the Chief Minister, both sides stand to gain electorally in 2027. However, if organisational pressure is used to corner the government—by raising issues such as neglect of party workers or lack of appointments in corporations and commissions without building consensus with the Chief Minister—it could lead to friction between the government and the party apparatus.
For now, the prevailing view is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has entrusted Pankaj Chaudhary with the responsibility of strengthening the BJP’s grassroots in Uttar Pradesh. Following the SIR exercise, the next month is expected to see a large number of party workers being accommodated within government structures. This is likely to be followed by organisational restructuring, where young and active leaders will be assigned key responsibilities. The objective is clear: not only to secure victory in the 2027 Assembly elections but also to make the BJP’s organisational base virtually unassailable well before the 2029 Lok Sabha polls.
