Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Transport Minister Swatantra Dev Singh was named State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party to replace Union Minister Mahendra Nath Pandey.

Pandey, who was also the Deputy Chief Minister previously, was inducted into the Union Cabinet, requiring a change in the state's guard.

Singh, 54, has been the OBC face of the party in the state and is known for his organisational skills.