BJP to fortify UP unit with key appointments

Lucknow: The BJP plans to add additional organisational muscles to the UP unit by appointing two joint general secretaries who will work alongside the incumbent state general secretary (organisation), Dharam Pal Singh, to enhance the party's functional approach and bolster its electoral presence in the state ahead of the high-stakes 2027 UP assembly elections. Both organisational functionaries are expected to be brought in from the RSS, BJP's ideological fountainhead. A broader blueprint of the plan, discussed recently in New Delhi between the state BJP leadership and the central leadership, is expected to be executed in the next few months, sources said. A top BJP leader affirmed that the plans to bring in two additional functionaries aim to enhance the party's functional efficiency and reinforce its grassroots influence across UP. This is in response to a potentially sharp challenge from the resurgent opposition, primarily the Samajwadi Party and its ally, Congress. Sources said that the party would eventually divide UP's six regions among the state general secretary (organisation) and the two joint general secretaries. The proposed measure draws a sharp parallel with the earlier practice when the state unit had Sunil Bansal, now the BJP national general secretary, deputed in UP as its state general secretary (organistion) in 2013. At that time, the state unit also had two joint general secretaries – Ratnakar and Chandra Shekhar. Ratnakar and Chandra Shekhar are now posted in Gujarat and Telangana as the party's state general secretaries (organisation), respectively. UP BJP spokesperson Hero Bajpai said that organisational reshuffling in a democratic manner had been the hallmark of the party. "This infuses new energy and boosts the confidence of the party workers," he said. The planned move comes amid strong speculations of the party's complete organisational overhaul – from the state to the booth level. BJP sources said that the party would also conduct organisational polls to elect new district presidents, who would eventually select a new state president. The incumbent state president, Bhupendra Chaudhary, took charge of the organisational command in 2022 after the party came to power for the second consecutive time in the state. Speculations were also rife about two senior ministers – a Kurmi and a Brahmin – of the Yogi Adityanath cabinet being sent back to the organisation as its head in case the party decides to replace Chaudhary, a Jat. BJP's alliance with the Jayant Chaudhary-led Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) has already strengthened the party's hold amongst the electorally crucial Jat vote bank, especially in the politically significant west UP region. The proposed organisational changes also align with CM Yogi's plans to implement a reshuffle in his cabinet. This has been pending for many months, especially after the election of two UP ministers – Jitin Prasada and Anup Valmiki – to the Lok Sabha from Pilibhit and Hathras, respectively.