In his first major press conference as the newly appointed Uttar Pradesh BJP president, Pankaj Chaudhary on Tuesday presented himself as a leader of simplicity and directness, distancing himself from the image of a scheming politician. Addressing the media at the party headquarters in Lucknow, Chaudhary made a pointed declaration about his working style.
‘Not a Manipulative Leader’: Chaudhary’s Defining Statement
"Main koi dwand-phand wala neta to hun nahi... main apna kaam seedhe tareeke se karta hun," Chaudhary stated, which translates to "I am not a manipulative leader... I do my work in a straightforward manner." This candid remark, made just over a week into his tenure, sent ripples through the state's political circles, with many within the saffron camp speculating about its deeper intent.
When questioned by the media separately about his statement, Chaudhary clarified that he was merely speaking his mind. "I just wish to take everyone along," he emphasized, reinforcing a collaborative approach. This aligns with his earlier comment during the mega event announcing his appointment by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, where he said he was not there to "rule" but to "play a role."
Contrasting Leadership and Attacking the Opposition
Political observers in the UP BJP view Chaudhary's remarks as a deliberate early effort to shape his leadership identity. By projecting simplicity and a consultative approach, he appears to be drawing a contrast with perceptions of hard-nosed, top-down political management often associated with state politics. Chaudhary placed the party worker, or 'karyakarta', at the centre of his vision, stating they meant "everything" to him. He asserted that all decisions would be taken after consulting with the grassroots workers, while also thanking the central leadership for the responsibility.
The state chief did not miss the opportunity to launch a sharp attack on the opposition's Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA) poll narrative, redefining the acronym as "Parivarik Dal Alliance" (Family-Based Party Alliance). He accused all parties in the opposition camp of being dynastic. Citing an example, he said when the Samajwadi Party came to power in 2012, it chose Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam Singh Yadav, as Chief Minister, overlooking seniors like Azam Khan.
He contrasted this with the BJP's history of elevating leaders like Kalyan Singh, who went from Leader of the Opposition in 1984 to Chief Minister in 1991.
Roadmap: Voter Lists, Modi Visit, and 2027 Goals
Outlining the party's immediate focus, Chaudhary said the BJP is currently engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list and preparing for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Lucknow. During this visit, PM Modi is set to inaugurate the 'Rashtriya Prerna Sthal', which houses towering bronze statues of Jan Sangh and BJP stalwarts like Syama Prasad Mookherjee, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Exuding confidence for the future, Chaudhary said the party would work unitedly to secure better results in the 2027 Assembly elections than it did in 2017. He also announced plans to observe former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's birth anniversary on December 25 under the 'Atal Janm Shatabdi Samaroh Abhiyan'. On Wednesday, cleanliness drives will be carried out at memorials of great personalities by office-bearers, workers, and citizens.
Furthermore, from December 25 to 31, the BJP will organise 'Atal Smriti Sammelans' in all 403 assembly constituencies of the state as part of 'Good Governance Week'.
On the recent appointment of the relatively younger Nitin Nabin as the party's national working president, Chaudhary stated that the BJP deploys its functionaries "as per the requirement." He stressed, "He (Nabin) was suited to play a national role while I was required to take charge of UP."
