New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh was the state where the BJP suffered the biggest setback in terms of seat count during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. To recover from this loss, the BJP is treading very cautiously as it prepares for the 2027 UP Assembly elections. The BJP National President visited UP for two days to revitalise the organisational structure and outline the strategy for the upcoming assembly polls.
UP BJP President Pankaj Chaudhary and party in-charge Dharmpal Saini also participated in the meetings alongside Nitin Naveen. Additionally, Nitin Naveen worked on fostering coordination among NDA allies in the state. The NDA’s allies in UP include the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), Apna Dal, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), and the Nishad Party. Following meetings with leaders from these parties, questions are arising regarding the specific issues the BJP will champion in the electoral arena.
Focus on forming the government for the third consecutive term.
The upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are expected to be highly decisive. The BJP aims to form the government in the state for the third consecutive time with the help of its allies. In 2017, the BJP secured a massive majority. Although the party formed the government again in 2022, its seat tally had dropped significantly. Consequently, the BJP hopes to replicate its 2017 performance in 2027. This is why the party seeks to unite its cadres and avenge the defeat suffered against the opposition in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Plan to field strong candidates in weak constituencies
In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP trailed in more than half of the assembly constituencies. The party is now focusing on strengthening its position in these weaker seats. Senior BJP leaders are making concerted efforts to revitalise the party’s prospects in these challenging constituencies.
Seeking a counter to Akhilesh’s ‘PDA’ strategy
The BJP is also working on balancing caste equations to counter the ‘PDA’ formula championed by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav. By focusing on the ‘PDA’ narrative, Akhilesh Yadav had secured the highest number of seats in the state during the Lok Sabha elections. Against this backdrop, the BJP high command is aiming to give due prominence to ‘PDA’ leaders within the party organisation, alongside their representation in the government.
While the SP and Congress partners in the INDIA bloc consistently accused the BJP of neglecting the backward classes and Dalits, the BJP is working earnestly to counter this narrative. Surprising names could well feature in the BJP’s list of candidates this time around.
Efforts to keep allies on board
During his visit to Lucknow, the BJP National President also met with NDA allies. He sought to understand their strategies and seat-sharing expectations, while also gauging the extent to which these allies could strengthen the BJP’s position in the elections.
He also tried to ascertain the views of BJP leaders regarding the number of seats to be allocated to alliance partners. Overall, Nitin Navin endeavoured to foster coordination between the BJP and its allies, ensuring that no negative message reached the opposition.
