NEW DELHI: Union Minister of State for finance Pankaj Chaudhary has been unanimously elected as the Uttar Pradesh BJP president, Union Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Sunday amid loud cheers at the party headquarters in Lucknow.”Today, on December 14, I am very happy to announce that Pankaj Chaudhary has been unanimously elected as the Uttar Pradesh BJP president. It gives me great happiness to make this announcement,” Goyal said while addressing party workers.Following the announcement, Chaudhary was felicitated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, along with other senior BJP leaders. Chaudhary later touched the Chief Minister’s feet and sought his blessings.A seven-time MP from Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj constituency, Chaudhary was inducted as Union Minister of State for Finance in the second Modi government. His elevation to the top organisational post in the state comes ahead of key political challenges for the party in Uttar Pradesh.Chaudhary began his political career at the grassroots level, serving as a member of the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation from 1989 to 1991. During this period, he also served as Deputy Mayor for a year before continuing in the role. He formally joined the BJP in 1990.He belongs to the Kurmi community, which falls under the Other Backward Classes category.Congratulating Chaudhary, Union Minister B L Verma said, “I extend my congratulations and best wishes to Pankaj Chaudhary. The BJP is a democratic party, and elections are conducted in a democratic manner. Whatever decision is taken is accepted by all party workers.”Minister Kapil Dev Agrawal termed Chaudhary’s appointment a matter of pride for the party. “He is a personality who began his political journey as a councillor, served as Deputy Mayor of Gorakhpur, and is a seven-time MP. The high command of the BJP has made a thoughtful decision, and under Chaudhary, the party will achieve new heights in the state,” he told IANS.BJP MLA Nand Kishore Gurjar described Chaudhary as a “very popular leader” and said, “Normally, after one or two victories, anti-incumbency sets in, but he has continued to win the Lok Sabha seat despite a challenging environment.”
