The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has set the stage for a fiercely contested race for its Uttar Pradesh state president post following the announcement of district presidents across 70 of its 98 organisational districts on Sunday. The move signals a potential shift from incumbent Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary, with party sources indicating that the selection process for his successor could begin shortly.

The appointments reflect a deliberate push for social diversity. Among the new district chiefs, five are women, 25 hail from Other Backward Classes (OBCs), and six represent Scheduled Castes (SCs). The caste breakdown includes 19 Brahmins, 10 Thakurs, three Kayasthas, two Bhumihars, four Vaishyas, and one Punjabi. The OBC cohort features five Kurmis, four Backward Vaishyas, and smaller numbers from communities like Yadav and Rajbhar, while SC appointees include three Pasis and one each from Dhobi, Katheria, and Kori groups. This mix underscores the BJP’s strategy to balance caste representation ahead of key elections.

The appointments stem from the party’s ongoing organisational elections, launched in November 2024. The process kicked off with elections for 1,62,459 booth committees in December, followed by 1,918 mandal elections, and district nominations in January. Delayed polls in 11 districts, tied to by-elections, are slated to wrap up this month, finalizing the remaining 28 presidents. Unlike past practices, announcements were decentralized, emanating from district headquarters rather than Lucknow.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the appointees, expressing confidence in their ability to bolster the party’s framework and advance Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance agenda. As the state presidency race intensifies, the BJP’s next leader will inherit a complex landscape shaped by these fresh organisational dynamics.