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The temperature of 2027 assembly elections has already started rising in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. To retain power in the state and regain their lost political ground, all political parties are busy solving caste equations. This time the main contest in the election battle is believed to be between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party (SP). The ‘PDA’ (Backward, Dalit, Minority) formula of opposition Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has changed the entire equation of politics in the state. To meet this challenge, BJP has prepared a very well-planned strategy, in which maximum emphasis is being given to the non-Yadav backward classes and especially the ‘Kurmi’ community. There is a strong discussion in the political circles as to why BJP’s entire focus is on the Kurmi community and what is its direct connection with SP’s PDA narrative. Let us know in this detailed article what kind of chessboard both the parties are laying to win the great battle of 2027.
Samajwadi Party’s PDA formula and BJP’s concern
After the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the slogan of ‘PDA’ i.e. Backward, Dalit and Minority has emerged as the biggest force in the politics of Uttar Pradesh. Through this formula, Samajwadi Party is trying to bring into its fold all those small and big social groups of the state who were feeling away from the mainstream of power and politics for a long time. Under this strategy, SP has greatly strengthened its penetration not only among Yadavs but also among other backward castes, Dalits and Muslims. Due to this political equation, BJP had to suffer loss on some seats in the last general elections, due to which the party high command has become completely alert. The biggest concern for BJP is that if this social alliance becomes stronger by the 2027 assembly elections, it will become a big challenge for the party to save its traditional support base.
Why is BJP’s special focus on Kurmi community?
If we look at the political history and current equations of Uttar Pradesh, after the Yadavs, the ‘Kurmi’ (Patel) community in the OBC category is considered to be the second most influential and biggest political force in the state. Kurmi voters have the ability to decide the victory or defeat of any party in dozens of assembly seats spread from Eastern Uttar Pradesh to Central UP and Rohilla section. This is why BJP does not want to let this important society go away from itself at any cost. In the last few elections, opposition parties have been continuously making efforts to make a dent in this class, to stop this, BJP has started putting Kurmi leadership at the forefront from its organizational structure to its election strategy. The party knows very well that if this large section of non-Yadav backward classes stands firmly with it, then the edge of SP’s PDA formula will automatically weaken.
Kurmi leaders are getting bigger responsibilities in the organization and government.
To implement this strategy, BJP has recently made major changes in its organizational structure. The party has entrusted important responsibilities to the eminent faces of the Kurmi community from the state level to the national level. The new appointments and organizational changes made by the party recently clearly reflect the efforts to balance the non-Yadav castes. By retaining Kurmi leaders on important posts at the central level, the party has given a strong message that every section of the society is getting full respect and representation. Apart from this, the coordination of seats and equations with the party’s allies in the state like Apna Dal (Sonelal) is also being corrected in time so that there is no dispersion of votes at the field level.
UP Elections 2027: The great battle of development vs caste
Regarding the upcoming 2027 assembly elections, political analysts believe that this election will not be limited only to development issues or government schemes, but it will be fought entirely on the basis of accurate equation of castes and social alliances. On one hand, while Samajwadi Party is engaged in the campaign to connect every section through PDA, on the other hand, BJP is trying to break it through its strong cadre, grassroots implementation of welfare schemes and systematic social engineering. The increasing focus on Kurmi, Maurya and other non-Yadav castes is proof that BJP is trying its best to find a solution to this new equation of the opposition.