After much delay and prolonged discussions, the stage seems finally set for a reshuffle in the state cabinet and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) organisation. BJP state President, Pankaj Chowdhry, held back-to-back
meetings with BJP national President Nitin Nabin and national General Secretary Organisation, B.L. Santosh, in Delhi on Thursday. Union Minister Pankaj Chowdhry was appointed as the state President in December, and since that day, there has been much speculation about an overhaul in the party organisation and frontal bodies before the 2027 assembly elections. Most office bearers in the state BJP have been holding office for long, and many new aspirants have to be adjusted, especially in view of the impending elections and changing political priorities. The BJP is keen to send out a strong message to OBC and Dalit voters, as sections of their votes had shown a shift towards the SP-Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The Brahmin upper caste votes are also perceived to be restless, and a reshuffle is likely to address all these issues. But apart from the overhaul in the BJP organisation, the most anticipated reshuffle would be in the state cabinet. As many as five-six new ministers are likely to be inducted in the reshuffle. There is some talk of an even bigger and comprehensive overhaul of the cabinet to address underperformance and cadre disconnect of ministers, but that might have to wait. Minister aspirants have already started lobbying from Lucknow to Delhi to ensure their name in the cabinet expansion. At least two-three heavyweight ministries are likely to see new faces, according to party insiders. One or two MLAs who have won in the by-polls may also be inducted into the ministry. A large number of party cadres are also vying for dozens of posts in state government corporations and commissions. They come with their perks and privileges, and there is a clamour for such posts which have been lying vacant for more than a year now. The cabinet reshuffle, filling of posts in corporations and local bodies, as well as the rejig of the state party organisation, has been long pending. Speculation has been rife since last year of new names being announced soon, but with little action. But now it seems that the final consultations have been held, and an announcement is likely in the coming days. Just before Pankaj Chowdhry’s meeting with party bigwigs in New Delhi, the national General Secretary, Vinod Tawde, had also come to Lucknow and met the Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Keshav Maurya and Brijesh Pathak, apart from Pankaj Chowdhry and a few other senior leaders to thrash out the priorities. Earlier, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had also had a meeting with CM Yogi and the Deputy CMs and state President in Lucknow. All indications are now that the new names could be announced soon after the final nod from Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. With the crucial UP assembly elections less than a year away, the next few days would see a major reset in the government and the party organisation.
