- Regional parties crucial for BJP, SP strategies in UP.
- SBSP, RLD, Apna Dal hold sway over specific communities.
- Alliances with smaller outfits key for 2027 elections.
UP Assembly Elections 2027: With just a few months remaining in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, the leading parties, including BJP, Samajwadi Party, and Congress have begun their campaign. While the major parties like BJP and SP have large base of loyal voters, the smaller regional parties too play a crucial role in the elections. The smaller parties, including the SBSP, RJD, and the ASP, have strong holds on certain voter bases, making them significant.
Key Regional Forces:
- Apna Dal (S) has strong presence in the eastern districts, especially Mirzapur, and has strong hold over the voters of Kurmi community. The Anupriya Patel-led party has been in the alliance with BJP for the past 12 years.
- Nishad Party enjoys popularity among several river-based communities, including Nishad, Mallah, Kevat, and Bind
- The OP Rajbhar-led SBSP has a strong hold over the voters of Rajbhar community and is set to contest the coming election with the BJP
- Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), led by Jayant Chaudhary, enjoys massive popularity in the western districts. The party carries the legacy of Chaudhary Charan Singh, the former prime minister.
- Azad Samaj Party's popularity has significantly increased among the youth of the Dalits. Chandrashekhar's victory from Nagina in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls gave a loud message- the Dalits are looking to explore new options.
While these parties have no significant presence in all parts of the state, they enjoy concentrated support in certain regions, making them relevant.
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Role Of Alliance
While BJP and the Akhilesh Yadav-led SP remains two biggest political forces in the state, they contest the polls with the regional outfits to increase their chances of winning. The BJP, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, is expected to contest the coming polls with Apna Dal, RLD, and SASP. Apart from this, the Samajwadi Party will try to make a comeback in the state after a decade with the help of Congress and the left forces. Swami Prasad also held a meeting with the Congress leaders recently and is expected to join the INDIA bloc.