The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections with a major organisational meeting in Lucknow. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will attend the two-day state working committee meeting at the Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Auditorium of Ram Manohar Lohia Law University. The meeting is being seen as an important step towards rebuilding the party’s electoral strength after its disappointing performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Around 2,850 representatives have been invited, and Shah is expected to share the party’s strategy for returning to power.
Amit Shah to Give Workers the Winning Mantra
Amit Shah will be the main speaker at the meeting, while Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to deliver the concluding address. The gathering will include Union ministers from Uttar Pradesh, state ministers, MPs, Rajya Sabha members, MLAs, MLCs and party office-bearers. Candidates who contested the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections on BJP tickets have also been invited. The party plans to review its organisational performance and discuss a roadmap for the upcoming Assembly polls.
Reviving the 2014 and 2017 Shah Formula
The BJP is reportedly looking to revive the electoral strategy that helped it achieve major victories in Uttar Pradesh in 2014 and 2017. When Amit Shah was appointed the party’s state in-charge in 2013-14, the BJP worked to unite upper castes, non-Yadav OBC communities and non-Jatav Dalit groups. This broader social coalition helped the party win 71 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, while its allies secured two more. In 2017, booth-level management and the involvement of grassroots workers further strengthened the party’s position.
Panna Pramukh and Regional Alliances in Focus
One of the key elements of the BJP’s 2017 strategy was the Panna Pramukh system, which connected party workers directly with voters at the booth level. The party also strengthened its support among non-Yadav OBC communities through alliances with smaller regional parties, including Apna Dal and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party at that time. The BJP is now looking to improve booth coordination, reconnect with dissatisfied workers and strengthen its relationships with social groups that played an important role in its earlier victories.
2024 Setback and MLC Results Raise Concerns
The BJP’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections exposed weaknesses in its social and organisational support base in Uttar Pradesh. The SP-Congress alliance and Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA strategy, focused on backward classes, Dalits and minorities, affected the BJP’s electoral calculations. Complaints about the neglect of grassroots workers and poor coordination at the local level have also emerged. The recent MLC elections have added to the party’s concerns, as the SP increased its tally from three seats to five. The BJP is expected to discuss these setbacks during the Lucknow meeting.
Non-Yadav OBC and Non-Jatav Dalit Votes Remain Crucial
A major focus of Amit Shah’s strategy is expected to be bringing non-Yadav OBC and non-Jatav Dalit communities back into the BJP’s support base. The party also wants to improve coordination with its allies over seat-sharing and political representation. Strengthening booth-level teams, addressing dissatisfaction among workers and rebuilding social alliances will be key priorities. The two-day meeting is expected to set the direction for the BJP’s campaign as it attempts to regain political momentum and secure another term in Uttar Pradesh in 2027.
