UP, Dec 12 : After weeks of speculation, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formally initiated the organisational election process to appoint the next Uttar Pradesh state president. The name of the new chief will be announced on December 14, though the decision may be revealed a day earlier if only one candidate submits a nomination.
Senior BJP leader and former Union minister Mahendra Nath Pandey confirmed that nominations for the state president’s post will be accepted on December 13, between 1 pm and 2 pm, at the party’s state headquarters in Lucknow. The process will be overseen by Central Election Observer Vinod Tawde, while Central Election Officer Piyush Goyal will complete the election formalities on December 14, followed by the official declaration.
OBC Leader Likely to Take Charge
Several names are under consideration for the crucial post, with strong indications that the party may choose a leader from the OBC, particularly the Kurmi community, ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Potential contenders include:
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya
Union MoS for Finance Pankaj Choudhury
UP ministers Swantra Deo Singh and Dharampal Singh
Former Union minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti
Organisational Process Nears Completion
The lengthy internal process to elect the new state chief is now in its final phase. As per the BJP constitution, members of the Provincial Council must be chosen first—one from each of the 403 Assembly constituencies, provided district presidents in those areas are already determined.
Uttar Pradesh has been divided into 98 districts, and the requirement is that over 50% of district presidents must be in place for the state-level election. Currently, 86% of district presidents have been appointed, and elections have been completed in more than 1,600 of 1,918 Mandals.
Top leaders including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and senior organisational heads can act as proposers for the nomination.
The BJP aims to finalise its new Uttar Pradesh president with a clear strategy as it gears up for the 2027 state polls.