The BJP will work with its allies to repeat the performance of the 2017 assembly polls on the strength of the work done in the state, party leaders said after a meeting with BJP president Nitin Nabin on Sunday. Later in a meeting with NDA allies, Nabin discussed measures to strengthen the alliance but no discussion was held on seat-sharing, party sources said. "The Bharatiya Janata Party is capable of fighting elections. We will ensure that all NDA constituents continue to work together to make Uttar Pradesh an 'Uttam Pradesh'," the BJP chief told reporters after meeting BJP allies at the Taj Hotel. Nabin, who is on a two-day visit to Lucknow, started his day with a meeting over tea with former BJP presidents of the state. They discussed the 2027 assembly election strategy, sources said. Former BJP state president Vinay Katiyar, who has been vocal about his views on the alleged Ram temple donation theft, was not seen at the meeting, party sources said.
Katiyar said on Friday said the sanctity of the Ram temple must be upheld irrespective of the ongoing investigation into alleged embezzlement of donations and that the "wrongdoing" was unacceptable. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, after the meeting of ex-BJP state presidents, said, "The BJP will form the government for the third consecutive time in Uttar Pradesh in 2027 under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the strength of the work we have done. "The people of Uttar Pradesh do not want goonda raj, mafia raj, dynastic politics or riots. They want development, good governance and security." If the Samajwadi Party returns, it will "crush people, intimidate them" and land grabbing would be back, Maurya, a former BJP state president, said. "A developed India and a developed Uttar Pradesh by 2047 is our goal, and for the next 21 years, the Samajwadi Party will not even be close to power," he said.
About the meeting with BJP president Nabin, he said, "We discussed that the government and the organisation will work together to repeat the 2017 performance and secure an even bigger victory in 2027. All our NDA allies will remain united." Former state president and UP minister Swatantra Dev Singh said the party's message is to take the welfare schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to every village. He said that the BJP, being a cadre-based party, derives its strength from its workers. "Our workers rise above casteism, regionalism, individualism, family rule and dynastic politics, and are guided by nationalism." The party always respects and cares for its workers because today's worker is tomorrow's leader, the minister added.
Another former president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary said, "We work closely with our alliance partners, address their concerns and remain engaged with them through regular discussions. I am confident that we will continue to uphold this spirit within the NDA alliance." When asked if the BJP's below-par performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls was discussed in the meeting, he said, "After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, you saw the results of the bypolls, where the BJP won all the seats. "We are fully prepared. A negative agenda does not succeed repeatedly. I am confident that the BJP will secure an even bigger mandate in UP than it did in 2017," Chaudhary said.
After the meeting RLD national general secretary Trilok Tyagi expressed confidence that the NDA would retain power in the 2027 assembly elections. He said the RLD had a presence across UP and its followers were throughout the state. "Our meeting was held to prepare for the 2027 elections. We will hold further discussions with the state president and the organisation's general secretary," Tyagi said. "The formula is simple -- the strongest alliance candidate capable of winning a seat will be fielded," he added.
Nishad Party president Sanjay Nishad said they discussed strengthening coordination among the allies. "Uttar Pradesh is moving towards becoming the best state once again. Our discussions focused on how all alliance partners can work in coordination, complement each other and ensure better organisational synergy among workers to secure victory," Nishad said. On seat-sharing, he said no discussions had been held so far. "Seat-sharing is a matter for the future. We were given respectable seats earlier, and we expect the same going forward," he added.
Apna Dal (Sonelal) leader Ashish Patel said the meeting focused on improving coordination between the BJP and its alliance partners ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. "Apna Dal has been with the NDA from the very beginning and has always played an important role in improving the alliance's performance," Patel said.