BJP has started laying the political chessboard in Purvanchal regarding the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. The programs of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National President Nitin Naveen are being linked to the election preparations of the organization. Keeping in mind the caste equations, strength of the organization and influence of opposition parties in Purvanchal, BJP is busy sharpening its strategy. Through programs to be held from Varanasi to Azamgarh, the party will try to energize the workers and create an electoral environment in its favor.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in a program in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi on Sunday. The foundation stone of a textile mill was laid here. After this, BJP National President Nitin Naveen will reach Azamgarh on 27th October. There he will be seen on the stage of Om Prakash Rajbhar, national president of the party's ally Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (Subhashpa).
The program is being seen as an exercise to strengthen coordination between allies in Purvanchal. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be in Lucknow on October 30. During this, he will hold meetings with state and national officials, central and state government ministers, officials of regional and district units. In these meetings to be held at the organizational level, election preparations, activism of workers and the party's strategy against the opposition are likely to be discussed.
Why is BJP eyeing the seats of Purvanchal?
Purvanchal is an important center of politics of Uttar Pradesh. Here caste equations, local leadership, influence of small parties and social alliances influence the election results. Prime Minister Modi's program in Varanasi and Nitin Naveen's presence in Azamgarh are being seen as part of this broader strategy of the party.
The presence of BJP national president on the platform of SubhaSP in Azamgarh can give a message of political coordination between the allies.
It is considered important for BJP to reach out to the voters of various backward classes including Rajbhar community in Purvanchal. The party's emphasis will also be on activating the local structure of the organization instead of limiting itself to meetings of big leaders only.
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Trying to keep allies together
Azamgarh has been counted among the areas of Samajwadi Party influence for a long time. In such a situation, the program of BJP National President is being considered politically important. The party will try to strengthen its hold among the voters by coordinating with the allies. Considering the political presence of SubhaSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar in Purvanchal, this program can also be important from the point of view of social equations. The challenge for BJP will be to convert the support of allies into votes at the local level along with keeping its workers fully active.
BJP faces challenge from the results of 2017 and 2022
The electoral history of Azamgarh has been challenging for BJP. In the year 2017, when there was a strong wave of BJP in the state, even then the party had won only one seat out of 10 assembly seats of Azamgarh. In the 2022 assembly elections, BJP could not win any seat here. In such a situation, Nitin Naveen's program in Azamgarh is not being seen as a mere organizational activity, but as an attempt to prepare the political ground for the upcoming assembly elections.
On the other hand, Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. From here, work can be done on the strategy of giving political message in Purvanchal through development plans and organizational activities. Along with maintaining its strong hold in Varanasi, BJP will also try to expand politically in areas like Azamgarh.
BJP's focus on OBC votes after PDA formula
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Samajwadi Party's PDA i.e. Backward, Dalit and Minority equation strengthened the opposition. After this, the challenge for BJP to retain voters from backward classes has increased. In Purvanchal, the role of voters of Rajbhar, Nishad and other backward classes can be decisive on many seats.
The signs of dissatisfaction coming from NDA's ally Nishad Party are also being considered as a challenge for the alliance. In such a situation, the presence of BJP national president on the platform of SubhaSP can be important in giving the message of coordination with allies.
Election strategy will be outlined in Amit Shah's meeting
The meetings to be held in Lucknow on October 30 in the presence of Amit Shah are being considered important for BJP's election preparations. In this, election strategy can be discussed with the officials of the organization, ministers and regional leadership. The party will face challenges like taking the work of the government to the public, strengthening the organization at the booth level and removing local dissatisfaction. Possible resentment against MLAs and questions arising over ticket distribution will also be important for the party. In such a situation, emphasis can be laid on identifying the shortcomings and activating the workers before the elections through organizational meetings.
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Preparation for show of strength in Purvanchal before 2027
Before the 2027 assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, the programs of big BJP leaders are being seen as part of election preparations. The activities of Modi in Varanasi, Nitin Naveen in Azamgarh and Amit Shah in Lucknow can become an opportunity for the party to give different political messages. BJP's challenge will be to maintain its old performance in Purvanchal and also to make a comeback in those seats where the opposition has been strong.
Samajwadi Party and its allies will face the challenge of maintaining their PDA equation. How BJP's strategy takes shape in the coming days, it can have an impact on the electoral politics of Purvanchal. At present, the programs of big leaders, coordination with allies and efforts to woo OBC voters have intensified the political preparations for 2027.