Caste At The Core? BJP Weighs Brahmin, OBC Faces For Party's UP Chief Post
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."
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