Who is Pankaj Chaudhary, the veteran Kurmi leader set to become new UP BJP chief ahead of 2027 polls

Pankaj Chaudhary

With the Bharatiya Janata Party preparing for a crucial leadership transition in Uttar Pradesh, seven time Maharajganj MP and Union minister Pankaj Chaudhary has emerged as a key figure the party is banking on to sharpen its organisational and social outreach ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.

Chaudhary, who belongs to the Kurmi community, a politically significant Other Backward Class in the state, is being seen as a leader whose elevation could help the BJP send a calibrated political message, when he filed nomination for the post of BJP state president. With his nomination, the leadership believes Chaudhary brings a distinct mix of grassroots credibility, administrative experience and organisational acceptability at a time when rebuilding backward class support has become a priority.

Sources in the party say Chaudhary enjoys the confidence of both the BJP’s central leadership and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. His easy accessibility to workers, non controversial image and long political innings are being cited as key factors that have placed him ahead of other aspirants for a larger role in the state organisation.

“The timing of the leadership change is also politically loaded. With the assembly elections less than two years away, the party appears keen to use the leadership choice to underline its Mission 2027 strategy,” R N Bajpayee, a political analyst said.

Manoj Bhadra, a senior journalist and political analyst, said: “The BJP’s relatively modest performance in Uttar Pradesh in the recent Lok Sabha elections has largely been linked to the success of the Samajwadi Party’s PDA outreach. Party strategists believe that projecting a strong and credible OBC leader like Chaudhary could help the BJP regain lost ground among backward communities and recalibrate its social coalition”.

Born in 1964 in Gorakhpur, Chaudhary completed his education up to graduation at Gorakhpur University. He entered public life in 1989 after being elected as a councillor in the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and later served as deputy mayor. After Maharajganj was carved out as a separate district, he made it the centre of his political activities and steadily built a strong base there.

Chaudhary earned a reputation as a dominant force in district panchayat politics in Maharajganj. His family has had a long association with local governance. His elder brother, the late industrialist Pradeep Chaudhary, became the first district panchayat chairman of Maharajganj, followed by two consecutive terms by his mother Ujjwal Chaudhary. Even during periods when the BJP was not in power, party leaders say Chaudhary retained influence over the district panchayat through organisational grip and political strategy.

He formally joined the BJP organisation in 1990 as a district working committee member. In 1991, he was elected to the Lok Sabha from Maharajganj on a BJP ticket and went on to retain the seat in 1996 and 1998. After defeats in 1999 and 2009, he returned to Parliament in 2004 and has been winning the seat continuously since 2014. He is currently serving his fifth consecutive term in the Lok Sabha.

Chaudhary was inducted into the Union government during the first expansion of the Narendra Modi cabinet and retained his ministerial position after winning the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Despite his long parliamentary career, party leaders point out that he has remained closely connected with grassroots workers and the public.

Even political rivals acknowledge his personal conduct and mass connect. Observers believe he could play a crucial role in consolidating traditional Kurmi votes, including sections aligned with allies such as the Apna Dal. Known for his proximity to the Sangh and acceptance among cadre based leaders, Chaudhary’s strategic skills have been tested across multiple elections.

BJP worker Dr Shanti Sharan Mishra said Chaudhary’s elevation would be a matter of pride for Maharajganj. He recalled that during the centenary celebrations of Gita Press, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Chaudhary’s residence by walking through narrow lanes, a gesture that significantly enhanced his stature in eastern Uttar Pradesh and further strengthened his standing within the Kurmi community.