Lucknow, Jan. 2 -- After the appointment of Pankaj Chaudhary as the new Uttar Pradesh BJP chief, the long overdue expansion of the state council of ministers and changes in the organisation are next on the party's agenda. These changes are most likely to take place after the festive occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 14-15, 2026.

The process of political appointments in commissions, boards, and councils will also begin soon, according to people familiar with the matter in the party.

The probable front-runners in the race for a ministerial berth are Rampur Sadar MLA Akash Saxena, who defeated senior Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan's nominee Asim Raza in a bypoll in December 2022.

Saxena is the first ever Hindu to win the Rampur Sad...