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News18
21 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Caste At The Core? BJP Weighs Brahmin, OBC Faces For Party's UP Chief Post
The Uttar Pradesh BJP unit has formally submitted a shortlist of six contenders to the central leadership — two Brahmins, two OBCs, and two Dalits. Who will steer the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in India's most decisive political battlefield? As the BJP prepares to appoint a new Uttar Pradesh chief from a shortlist of six names, Brahmins and OBCs have emerged frontrunners in the decision that could define the party's strategy for the 2027 assembly polls. The Uttar Pradesh BJP unit has formally submitted a shortlist of six contenders to the central leadership — two Brahmins, two OBCs, and two Dalits. Sources say the high command is actively evaluating the names, with a decision likely in the next two weeks, possibly earlier. The new state chief will replace Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat leader from western UP, who has been in office since 2022. Chaudhary's tenure, while focused on consolidating Jat and non-Yadav OBC support, saw the BJP suffer unexpected losses in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, prompting an urgent rethink at the organisational level. Why Caste Math Matters Caste arithmetic is at the heart of the BJP's deliberations. While explaining the importance of caste equations in UP, Shashikant Pandey, head department of political science, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, and a political expert said Uttar Pradesh has always been a political chessboard where social equations can make or break electoral fortunes. 'The BJP's setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where the Samajwadi Party surged to the forefront, has heightened the need for a new strategy. Discontent among Brahmins, combined with a shifting OBC vote bank, is forcing the BJP to carefully weigh its next move," points out Pandey. The leaders close to the decision-making process admit that the new president must bridge both gaps while ensuring cohesion with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's leadership. A Decade-Long Trend Since 2014, the BJP has alternated between Brahmin and OBC leaders to maintain balance among its support bases. In 2014, Laxmikant Bajpai, a Brahmin, headed the state unit as the BJP swept the Lok Sabha elections. Keshav Prasad Maurya, a Maurya OBC, was appointed in 2016 and led the party into its massive 2017 assembly win. Mahendra Nath Pandey, a Brahmin, guided the 2019 general election campaign, while Swatantra Dev Singh, a Kurmi OBC, took the reins for the 2022 assembly elections. Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat, followed, but his tenure coincided with the party's disappointing 2024 Lok Sabha performance. The Brahmin Option Harish Dwivedi, a two-term MP from Basti, is emerging as the strongest Brahmin contender. Though he lost his seat in 2024, Dwivedi remains well-regarded for his organisational skills and close ties with the BJP's central leadership. Having earlier led the state's youth wing and held responsibilities as in-charge of Assam, Dwivedi is also considered close to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. His elevation would aim to address murmurs of discontent among Brahmins while injecting youth and energy into the state leadership. The OBC Contenders Among OBC aspirants, Union Minister of State BL Verma is being seen as a safe and steady choice. A long-time associate of the late Kalyan Singh, Verma is praised for his low-profile style and RSS roots. His appointment would strengthen the BJP's hold on non-Yadav OBCs, a crucial bloc to counter the SP's growing influence. Also in contention is Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, a prominent Maurya OBC leader who earlier served as UP BJP president during the 2017 landslide. Maurya is known for his connect with party workers and for asserting that the 'organisation is bigger than the government." While speculation persists about his dissatisfaction with his current role, his caste base and proven record make him a formidable candidate. Other Names in Circulation The shortlist also includes Dinesh Sharma, a Brahmin leader and former Deputy Chief Minister with strong RSS backing; Ram Shankar Katheria, a Dalit leader and former Union minister known for his Hindutva credentials; and Vidya Sagar Sonkar, a Dalit MLC recognised for his loyalty and quiet organisational work. However, party insiders suggest the real contest lies between the Brahmin and OBC candidates, with Dalit contenders unlikely to be favoured this time. A Crucial Call for the BJP The senior BJP political analysts in UP said that for the BJP, the choice of its new UP chief is about more than balancing caste equations. The leader will need to energise the cadre, reconnect with communities drifting away, and complement Yogi Adityanath's leadership without overshadowing him. 'We are looking for someone who is acceptable to both the organisation and the communities that form our backbone," a senior BJP leader said. 'This decision will set the stage for 2027." First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ex-deputy Chief Minister among six names shortlisted for UP BJP chief's post
The Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has sent a shortlist of six names – two Brahmins, two from the backward community and two from the Dalit community, all men – to the national leadership that is set to pick the next chief of the state unit, a senior party leader said on Friday. The BJP, which has already picked state chiefs in over 25 of 37 organisational units, is also gearing up to name its next national president.(File Photo / Representational Image) India's most populous state is set to go to the polls in early 2027 and the choice of the state unit chief is considered among the key decisions in front of the BJP, which will look to reverse its Lok Sabha setback in the state and secure a third consecutive term in Lucknow. The BJP, which has already picked state chiefs in over 25 of 37 organisational units, is also gearing up to name its next national president. The new state chief will replace Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, a Jat leader from western Uttar Pradesh, said the BJP leader. The names suggested include former deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma and former Basti MP Harish Dwivedi (both Brahmins), sitting UP minister Dharampal Singh and sitting Union minister of state BL Verma (both OBCs), and former Union minister Ram Shankar Katheria and sitting MLC Vidya Sagar Sonkar (both Dalits). 'On our part, we have suggested to the central leadership suitable names that can be considered for the post of UP BJP chief and the leadership is actively evaluating them. A decision is likely within the next two weeks, possibly earlier,' said the leader. Sharma, a Brahmin leader known for his clean image and academic credentials, enjoys the confidence of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the top leadership. Dwivedi, also a Brahmin, brings youth and parliamentary experience, having served as an MP from Basti and a national secretary in the party. Both Dharmpal Singh and BL Verma are from the influential Lodh community. Singh, a senior minister in the UP cabinet, has decades of legislative and ministerial experience. Verma, currently Union minister of state, is seen as a disciplined and low-profile organiser with deep RSS links. He enjoys trust within the organisation. Katheria, a former Union minister and ex-chairman of the National Scheduled Caste Commission, is known for his aggressive articulation of Hindutva and Dalit identity. Sonkar, an MLC, is a low-key but loyal party worker with influence in eastern UP. UP BJP chief Bhupendra Chaudhary said, 'We have apprised the high command of our views. Now, it is for the central leadership to declare the name of the new president for the state and this, we hope will happen very soon.'
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
BJP to get new UP chief? Who are the probables for the crucial party post?
There has been a growing buzz over the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) electing a new chief for its Uttar Pradesh unit, which was headed by Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary whose tenure ended earlier this year. Children hold BJP flags during an election rally ahead of Lok Sabha Polls. (File photo/ANI) The speculation come after the BJP selected Ramchander Rao as the new Telangana unit president, even as the process to elect a new party chief has picked up pace in the saffron camp. The party has delayed the election for a new UP president for several months. The delay has been attributed to the Delhi Assembly Elections, as the central leadership was busy with the polls in the national capital, where the saffron camp got a massive victory after 27 years. What to expect from the election of a new UP BJP chief? The election of a new party chief in Uttar Pradesh is believed to be just a formality, as the only the candidate finalised by the party's high command will file nomination. The BJP is likely to select a new chief from the Schedule Caste (SC), in a bid to counter the Samajwadi Party's Pichda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak (PDA) formulation. Who are the frontrunners? Some of the frontrunners for the state doing the rounds are Vidya Sagar Sonkar and Ram Shankar Katheria, both from the SC category. Swatantra Dev Singh, Babu Ram Nishad and Dharampal Singh, belonging to the OBC category, are also among the frontrunners. If the party prefers an OBC leader for the top post, Swatantra Dev Singh is the frontrunner for the post, a senior BJP leader told Hindustan Times. Meanwhile, the central leadership has initiated the proceedings to complete the election process of state presidents of several states. National chief's selection after appointing UP president The process to select the new national president is also picking up pace in the BJP camp. According to the BJP's constitution, the party's national president could only be elected after completing the election process of 50 percent of its state units. The term of BJP's incumbent national president JP Nadda ended in January last year, but the national executive committee in January 2024 extended his term till June 2025 in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Party insiders have suggested that the new UP chief will be selected keeping in view the upcoming assembly polls in 2027. "The new state president is most likely to be from the SC category and the second option will be the OBC category," a senior BJP leader said. "The new state president will be elected keeping in view the 2027 assembly polls in the state," he added. The party is going all out to regain the lost ground after its below-par showing in the Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh last year. The party's poor performance in the state was attributed to the shifting of OBC and Dalit votes to the Samajwadi Party's PDA formulation. The BJP has managed to keep its caste umbrella intact in the last four successive polls in Uttar Pradesh—2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha and 2017, 2022 assembly polls. The diverse representation includes non-Jatav Dalits, non-Yadav OBCs and upper castes. However, the SP's PDA formulation succeeded in giving a dent to the BJP's vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll, when it succeeded in bringing a large chunk of OBC and Dalits into its fold. The BJP's tally in Uttar Pradesh came down to 33 in the last Lok Sabha election from 62 in 2019.
India Gazette
10-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pakistan, a failed nation that serves terrorism: Uttar Pradesh BJP Chief
Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 10 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh BJP President Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary on Saturday criticised Pakistan and said that it is a 'failed nation' that works to serve terrorism all over the world. Speaking to ANI, Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, 'Pakistan is a failed nation. They have worked to serve terrorism all over the world. The people of India, the 140 crore people of our country, are determined that we stand with our army, stand with our government with full force against terror and terrorists.' Earlier in the day, Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa had assured the citizens of the national capital to refrain from panic buying. He assured that the capital was prepared for an emergency and that the city's people need not worry about a shortage of essential commodities. 'There is no shortage of essential commodities here, so no one needs to indulge in panic buying. No one needs to worry. PM Narendra Modi and Delhi CM Rekha Gupta look after you day and night. We are ready for any emergency... Delhi was safe, Delhi is safe. India was safe, India is safe. Delhi Police and the Delhi Disaster Management department are well equipped,' said Sirsa. Meanwhile, India and Pakistan agreed to the stoppage of military action. However, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday and noted that India will continue its firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism. 'India and Pakistan have today worked out an understanding on the stoppage of firing and military action. India has consistently maintained a firm and uncompromising stance against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. It will continue to do so,' he said in a post on X. The minister's remarks came after DGMOs of India and Pakistan agreed that both sides would stop all firing and military action. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told the media that Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations contacted his Indian counterpart on Saturday afternoon. 'Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) called the Indian DGMO at 15:35 hours earlier this afternoon. It was agreed between them that both sides would stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea with effect from 1700 hours Indian Standard Time,' he said. 'Today, instructions have been given on both sides to give effect to this understanding. The Directors General of Military Operations will talk again on the 12th of May at 1200 hours,' he added. Pakistan Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also confirmed the ceasefire. 'Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,' he said in a post on X. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that both countries had agreed to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site. India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 in reply to the ghastly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The terror attack had killed 26 people. India had struck nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan sought to up the ante with a series of unprovoked escalations using artillery guns and drones. (ANI)
