When will BJP UP president be announced? Who are frontrunners?
The countdown to the BJP organizational elections for the state president has begun. The names of the provincial council members were announced late Tuesday night.
They are elected one per assembly constituency and vote in the state president's election. Since Kharmas begins on December 16th, efforts are underway to complete the state president's election process before that.
The organizational elections, which have been ongoing in the state since October last year, began in March this year with the announcement of 70 out of 98 district presidents. On November 26th, 14 more district presidents were appointed, bringing the total to 84. The selection of 51 percent of district presidents is required for the state president election, while approximately 86 percent of district presidents have now been selected.
Sources indicate that the BJP is expected to announce its new state president on December 12th. Union Minister Piyush Goyal, the organization's in-charge of UP elections, is expected to arrive in Lucknow on Thursday evening and, after completing the nomination formalities on December 12th, announce the name of the new state president.
Party can place its faith in an OBC candidate
It is being reported that this time the party will place its faith in an OBC candidate. BL Verma's name is also being considered for the state president's post. However, amid these possibilities, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti has already met with party national president JP Nadda. She herself shared a photo of the meeting on Facebook.
Potential contenders
Former Union Minister Niranjan Jyoti, Union Minister BL Verma, Dalit leader Vidyasagar Sonkar, and former Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma are among the potential contenders for the post of UP BJP state president. Niranjan Jyoti also met with Nadda a few days ago.
BJP may be targeting Dalits or OBCs
Ramshankar Katheria, former Lok Sabha MP from Agra and Etawah, is also in the list of probable candidates. Dalits constitute approximately 21 percent of the population in Uttar Pradesh, and the BJP may be targeting Dalits or OBCs ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. In fact, by announcing the state president, the BJP is trying to counter the Samajwadi Party's PDA formula ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
BJP can play the women's card
Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti belongs to the backward class Mallah caste and is also a woman. This allows the BJP to play the women's card. Women voters have emerged as game-changers in assembly elections in several states, including Bihar, Bengal, and Jharkhand. Therefore, Niranjan Jyoti could also be appointed state president. However, considering the BJP's history, the party has never appointed a woman as state president.