BJP Revamps UP Strategy Ahead Of 2027 Polls

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is revamping its strategy in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 assembly polls, adopting an all-hands-on-board approach. The party has buried its hatchets and rehabilitated personae non gratae in a bid to regain its momentum in the state.

The revamped party organisation has the maximum representation from UP, with ace organiser and election manager Vinod Tawde taking the reins of the campaign. The re-‘RSS-isation’ of the BJP appears to be in process, with the party seeking to re-establish its close coordination with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The RSS has played a crucial role in the BJP's success in UP, with its engine powering the party to four consecutive electoral wins in the state. The close coordination between the party and the RSS from 2014 onwards has been attributed to the BJP's spectacular success in UP. Sunil Bansal, an RSS pracharak deputed as organising secretary of the BJP's UP wing, was hailed as the architect of the BJP's electoral strategy.

However, post the 2022 assembly elections, a rift emerged between UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Bansal, who was said to be ‘close’ to Union home minister Amit Shah. Bansal was shifted to Delhi and went on to pull off a spectacular coup in West Bengal. But the dissonance between the party's central leadership and the charismatic UP CM persisted, resulting in the loss of 29 seats in the 2024 general elections.

For the BJP, regaining its momentum in UP is vital to its prospects in 2029. Going by opinion surveys, the contest will be tough, close and hard-fought. The party leadership has tactically decided against a forced reset of the Adityanath-Bansal equation, instead assigning Tawde to lead the campaign.

Tawde's appointment is significant, as both he and Adityanath are said to be close to RSS No. 2 (sarkaryavaha), Dattatreya Hosabale. The RSS and Adityanath have signed off on Tawde's command of the backroom, indicating a renewed coordination between the party and the RSS.

Historically, the BJP has always underperformed when it is at odds with the RSS. The party's decision to re-establish its close coordination with the RSS is crucial to its success in UP. The kerfuffle during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when former party president J P Nadda declared that the BJP no longer required the services of the RSS, now seems to have been forgotten.

The BJP's revamped strategy in UP is a significant development, indicating a renewed focus on cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between the party and the RSS. As the 2027 assembly polls approach, the party's ability to regain its momentum in the state will be crucial to its prospects in 2029.

The outcome of the 2027 assembly polls in UP will have significant implications for the BJP's national prospects. The party's success in the state will depend on its ability to re-establish its close coordination with the RSS and regain the trust of its voters. With Tawde at the helm of the campaign, the BJP is well-placed to achieve its goals in UP.

In conclusion, the BJP's revamped strategy in UP is a significant development, indicating a renewed focus on cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between the party and the RSS. The party's ability to regain its momentum in the state will be crucial to its prospects in 2029, and the outcome of the 2027 assembly polls will have significant implications for the BJP's national prospects.