As the BJP steps up its organisational preparedness for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, the party’s national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh on Saturday held marathon meetings in the state capital and Kanpur to seek feedback on ground realities and shortcomings that the party faces on the road to the polls.
“The focus was on the 2027 assembly polls in both meetings. Santhosh briefed general secretaries on making the month-long Seva Sankalp campaign from September 17 to October 17 a success to mark 25 years of PM Narendra Modi’s public life. Leaders said feedback taken on Saturday will be factored into the strategy for Rajya Sabha and MLC (teachers’ and graduates’ constituency) polls where names are being finalised, and for the 2027 roadmap.
In Lucknow, he first met four former state presidents – Bhupendra Chaudhary, Ramapati Ram Tripathi, Swatantra Dev Singh and Surya Pratap Shahi. State general secretary (organisation) Dharampal Singh, state in-charge of the party Vinod Tawde and co-incharge Jagdish Patel were also present in addition to the state media team, including the chief state spokesperson. Santhosh sought feedback on whether there was resentment against the party among the masses, especially among the youth, upper castes and students in the political scenario that unfolded over the last two months following the NEET paper leak row, the UGC protest, and the job quota issue raised by youth. The booth-level functionaries will be briefed on how to take the party’s programmes to the ground and will also receive training for the task.
Sources said former state presidents shared their assessment of organisational strength in different regions, the impact of recent incidents that helped the opposition build a narrative against the BJP, including the UGC equity guidelines row, GenZ protests, quota anger, the “powerless MLA” jibe and suggestions to counter it. He took feedback from us on ground realities for the BJP in the aftermath of the UGC and quota protest,” said a senior BJP leader who was present at the meeting. Santhosh will meet booth presidents of the Govind Nagar assembly constituency on Sunday.
