UP BJP Chief: OBC, Dalit Leaders Emerge Frontrunners As Race Gathers Pace
Party insiders say that given the heightened political activity by the SP, and the caste census being announced by the central government, an OBC could be the preferred choice
After a political lull post the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the consequent Operation Sindoor, the process to select the new state president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gathered momentum.
The long overdue appointment was to be finalised towards the end of April. The choice is likely between an Other Backward Class (OBC) and a Dalit candidate, say party insiders.
'As the new president would also be at the helm during the state polls due in mid-2027, the caste angle has to be kept in mind. Especially because the opposition Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are trying to consolidate their traditional votes of OBCs and Dalits," said the BJP functionary.
Much would also depend on who or leader of which caste is appointed as the national chief of the BJP. 'Both the national and the state president cannot be from the same caste, as we would like to present a rainbow of castes before the big UP polls," said the functionary.
The organisational rejig in UP started in October, and a new BJP chief should have been in place by January.
As per the BJP constitution, a state BJP chief is chosen only after 50 per cent of district presidents have been elected. Currently, 70 district chiefs have been newly elected and there is no technical roadblock in electing the new president.
'But a lot of considerations have to be kept in mind. The recent Lok Sabha polls saw the opposition building a false narrative among Dalits and OBCs that the Constitution would be changed. Although we have been able to expose them now, we also need to consolidate our hold on these two big caste groups."
Party insiders say that given the heightened political activity by the SP, and the caste census being announced by the central government, an OBC could be the preferred choice. Names of OBC leaders such as union Ministers BL Verma and Pankaj Chaudhary, state animal husbandry minister Dharampal Singh are doing the rounds.
The Dalit leaders seen as frontrunners are minister Baby Rani Maurya, Asim Arun and former union minister Ram Shankar Katheria and Vidya Sagar Sonkar.
First Published:
May 20, 2025, 18:58 IST
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