BJP Prepares to Select New Uttar Pradesh Chief Amid Upcoming Elections
BJP's Leadership Transition in Uttar Pradesh
The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has submitted a list of six candidates to its national leadership for the selection of the next state chief. This list includes two candidates from the Brahmin community, two from backward classes, and two from the Dalit community, all of whom are male. A senior party official provided this information. With elections scheduled for early 2027 in India's most populous state, the appointment of the state unit chief is considered a crucial decision for the BJP as it aims to reverse its recent electoral setbacks and secure a third consecutive term in Lucknow.
Candidates for State Leadership
The BJP has already appointed state heads in over 25 of its 37 organizational units and is also preparing to announce its next national president. According to party insiders, the new state chief will replace Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat leader from western Uttar Pradesh. The proposed candidates include former Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma and ex-MP Harish Dwivedi (both Brahmins), current state minister Dharmapal Singh and Union Minister B.L. Verma (both from OBC), as well as former Union Minister Ram Shankar Katheria and current MLC Vidya Sagar Sonkar (both Dalits).
Anticipation for National President Announcement
Following Independence Day, the BJP is expected to announce a consensus candidate for the position of national president. The delay in selecting a new president has sparked speculation among party workers. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP, has reportedly advised consensus on a candidate with organizational experience and a neutral stance within the party. Sources indicate that the BJP is focusing on four potential candidates, all of whom possess significant organizational experience.
Leading Candidates for National President
Central ministers Bhupendra Yadav, Dharmendra Pradhan, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and senior BJP leader B.D. Sharma are being considered as frontrunners for the national president position due to their qualifications. The party plans to convene its central council meeting to reach a consensus on one of the names under consideration. A senior source mentioned on Thursday evening that it appears almost certain that the announcement of the new national president will occur after August 15.