Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Dec 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to appoint Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary as its Uttar Pradesh unit chief at a grand ceremony in Lucknow on Sunday. Chaudhary is expected to file his nomination papers today, with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and National General Secretary Vinod Tawde slated to attend.

Chaudhary, a seven-time MP from Maharajganj, hails from a political family—his mother Ujjwal Chaudhary served as District Panchayat President. A Gorakhpur University graduate, he began his political journey as a Municipal Corporation member in Gorakhpur and later served as Deputy Mayor. He joined the BJP in 1990 and currently holds the Union Minister of State for Finance portfolio in PM Modi’s second Cabinet.

Belonging to the Kurmi community, classified under the Other Backward Classes (OBC), Chaudhary’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to consolidate non-Yadav OBC votes ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Kurmi voters, forming 8–10 per cent of the electorate, influence 30–40 seats across regions including Terai, Kashi, Gorakhpur, Awadh, and Rohilkhand. The BJP has also strengthened ties with Kurmi voters through its alliance with Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal (Sonelal).

Sources indicate a Cabinet reshuffle may follow Chaudhary’s appointment to maintain regional balance, with greater representation expected from central UP. Outgoing state vice-president Bhupendra Chaudhary could retain a Cabinet berth, while BJP leader Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti may receive key responsibilities. Some ministers may be dropped based on performance.