Seeing my water receding, don't settle a house on my shore, I am the ocean, I will return… This line is from former Union Minister Smriti Irani But it fits perfectly… After the defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it seemed that his political career was over, but when BJP National President Nitin Nabin announced his new team on August 17, he was given the responsibility of National General Secretary.
This appointment of Irani, one of the prominent women leaders of BJP, is also important because after the defeat from Amethi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, she was out of the central organizational structure of BJP. Now after about two years he has returned to the national organization. This is not being seen as just a general organizational reshuffle. Smriti Irani's new responsibility is being linked to the upcoming election strategy of BJP, especially for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2027.
Became 'Giant Killer' by defeating Rahul Gandhi in 2019
- Smriti Irani's political identity is deeply linked to Uttar Pradesh and especially Amethi. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, he contested for the first time from Amethi against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. He had to face defeat in that election, but he did not break his connection with Amethi.
- Irani continued visiting Amethi for the next five years. He strengthened contacts with local workers, reached out to villages and worked on strengthening the BJP organization. He benefited from this in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
- In 2019, Smriti Irani defeated the then Congress President Rahul Gandhi by 55,120 votes. Irani got 4,68,514 votes, while Rahul Gandhi got 4,13,394 votes.
- Rahul Gandhi was representing Amethi since 2004. In such a situation, this victory in the stronghold of Gandhi family made Smriti Irani among the most popular leaders of BJP. After his victory, he was even called 'Giant Killer' in political circles.
The tables turned in 2024
The equations in politics do not always remain the same. The story changed in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Smriti Irani was defeated by Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma from Amethi seat. The margin of defeat of Irani in this election was more than 1.67 lakh votes. After this, the role of Smriti Irani, who was a minister at the Center for many years, also became limited in the central organization. In such a situation, his return as National General Secretary is being considered important for his political career.
BJP's focus on 2027 UP elections?
Politics of Uttar Pradesh has always been very important for BJP. The 2027 assembly elections will also be a big contest for the party because in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP did not perform as per expectations in the state. In 2024, out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, the opposition INDIA block won 43 seats, while the NDA got 36 seats. Of these, BJP got 33 seats. After this result of Lok Sabha elections, now the 2027 assembly elections are being considered as a big political test for BJP. This is the reason why experienced leaders who understand the politics of Uttar Pradesh getting important responsibilities in the new national team is a topic of discussion.
What could be Smriti Irani's role?
Smriti Irani's responsibility as National General Secretary will not be limited to just one state. The National General Secretary plays an important role in the party organization. Her responsibilities may include coordination with state units, strengthening the organization, contribution to election strategy, work related to candidate selection and better coordination among party workers, but Smriti Irani's biggest strength is her recognizable face among the public and experience of aggressive election campaigning. For this reason, Irani's presence in the new team of BJP along with experienced strategists of the organization is considered important.
Many experienced strategists also included in the new team
Apart from Smriti Irani, experienced leaders like Sunil Bansal, Vinod Tawde, Biplab Deb and Satish Poonia have also got important responsibilities in the new national team of BJP. Sunil Bansal is counted among the key strategists who have built a strong electoral organization of BJP in Uttar Pradesh. During his tenure, emphasis was laid on strengthening the organization up to the booth level, reaching out to beneficiaries and data-based election strategy.
Vinod Tawde and Satish Poonia also have long experience of party management in the organization and states. The appointment of Smriti Irani along with these leaders presents a picture of a BJP team in which, along with organizational experience, faces who can convey the message to a large group have also been given place.
BJP's increasing focus on women voters
Another aspect of Smriti Irani's return is related to women voters. In the last decade, BJP has emphasized on many schemes and campaigns to strengthen its hold among women voters. The party has been considering Ujjwala Yojana, Swachh Bharat Mission, Jal Jeevan Mission and various direct benefit schemes as important mediums of its reach to women voters.
Smriti Irani's political experience can also be considered in line with this strategy. She has been the Minister of Women and Child Development at the Center and has also held the responsibility of President of BJP Mahila Morcha. Therefore, her return to the party organization is also being seen as an attempt to strengthen BJP's message among women voters.
Old victory against Rahul Gandhi also becomes political strength
There is also a symbolic aspect in the appointment of Smriti Irani. Rahul Gandhi and Congress are trying to strengthen the organization in Uttar Pradesh. At such a time, getting an important responsibility in the national organization of BJP to the leader who defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, again brings to the fore the old political narrative of the party. However, in politics, the future outcome cannot be decided just on the basis of victory in a previous election. The defeat of Amethi in 2024 also shows that the mood of voters and electoral equations can change.
From TV's 'Bahu' to BJP's national politics
- Smriti Irani's political journey has also been quite interesting. Before entering politics, she was a popular face in the world of television, she got household recognition from serials like 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi'.
- After joining BJP in 2003, he gradually made his place in the organization. In 2011, he was made the national vice president of BJP.
- In 2014, Irani contested elections from Amethi and became a Union Minister in the Narendra Modi government. In 2016, he got the responsibility of the Ministry of Human Resource Development and in 2018 took charge of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
- After the historic victory of Amethi in 2019, she played another important role in the Modi government. Now his return as National General Secretary in 2026 is another important milestone in his political journey.
Will Irani be an important face for BJP in 2027?
At present, it is too early to say whether Smriti Irani's new responsibility will have a direct impact on the results of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, but it is certain that BJP has brought her back into the national organization at a time when the party is trying to further strengthen its political position in Uttar Pradesh.
Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in 2019, lost from the same seat in 2024. Now his return as National General Secretary shows that BJP has again expressed confidence in his political experience and public relations ability. That means Smriti Irani's story was not over after the defeat of Amethi – her political comeback with the responsibility of National General Secretary in the new team of BJP is once again in the news.