Gorakhpur: BJP's New Power Hub in UP as Pankaj Chaudhary Becomes State President

• Gorakhpur, CM Yogi Adityanath's home turf, gains renewed political focus with Pankaj Chaudhary's appointment as UP BJP president.
• This move is unusual as both CM and state president now hail from the same district, breaking BJP's traditional regional balance.
• Chaudhary's elevation, a Kurmi OBC leader, aims to consolidate Gorakhpur's influence, improve party-govt coordination, and broaden OBC outreach ahead of 2026/2027 elections.
• The concentration of power in Gorakhpur could lead to internal challenges, including potential factionalism between followers of the CM and state president during ticket distribution.
• Despite BJP's public stance downplaying Gorakhpur as an exclusive power center, its prominence highlights the party's strength in eastern UP and the challenge of balancing ambition and caste arithmetic.

Why It Matters: Gorakhpur emerges as a central power hub for UP BJP, signaling strategic shifts and potential internal dynamics.