By- Jawahar Mishra
…………………………………………………………………….
Highlights – The BJP has suddenly changed the country’s electoral mood. Preparations for voting ahead of schedule in 4 states including UP. Speculations of assembly elections being held ahead of time in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa have intensified. The election schedule might be changed due to the nationwide caste and economic census scheduled for early 2027.
………………………………………………………………..
The political atmosphere in four major states of the country—Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa—has heated up suddenly and rapidly. The central high command of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given clear instructions to all its senior leaders and key committees in these states to hit the campaign trail without wasting any time. According to reports coming from political corridors, the assembly elections in these states could be held a few weeks ahead of their scheduled time.
……………
The primary reason behind this major buzz is considered to be the nationwide census scheduled for the early months of 2027. The national leadership of the BJP appears to be in full action mode and has issued orders to all its state units to exert their full strength to win the elections.
………………….
Why is the entire voting schedule being changed ?
………………………………………………………………..
There are several important administrative reasons behind the situation leading to early elections in the country. In fact, the second and most crucial phase of the countrywide census is set to begin in the month of February. This time the census is quite special because, for the first time, along with the caste-based census, very sensitive data related to the economic, educational, and family fertility rates of society will also be collected. Conducting elections and carrying out a nationwide census are both massive tasks that require lakhs of government employees and heavy security forces.
………………..
Often, the same staff is assigned duties for both these major operations, which could create a huge challenge for law and order and logistics in the country. To avoid this administrative conflict, the election schedule in states like Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Punjab might be shifted forward by a few weeks. Meanwhile, the BJP unit in Uttarakhand is in favor of finishing the elections even earlier, considering the snowfall and difficulties in the mountains. Apart from this, elections are also to be held in Manipur early next year, and Delhi is keeping a close watch on the situation there.
……………………..
Impact of the Bengal Victory
………………………………………………………………..
BJP strategists believe that a very favorable environment for the party has been created at this time. The enthusiasm of party workers is at an all-time high following the grand and historic success in the recently held West Bengal assembly elections. A large faction of the BJP clearly believes that the main reason behind this overwhelming victory in Bengal was ‘Hindu polarization’ and the wave of nationalism.
…………..
The party’s senior leaders are fully confident that the exact same electoral formula can pave the way for a BJP victory in large states like Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well. This is the reason why a strict message has been sent from the Delhi headquarters to all states that they should not let this political wave and momentum, created by the Bengal election, diminish at any cost and should further strengthen their reach among the public.
…………………..
New Strategy to Surprise the Opposition
…………………………………………………………………….
A deep political maneuver is also hidden behind this major decision to hold early elections. If Uttar Pradesh is excluded, the main contest in the remaining election-bound states like Punjab, Goa, and Uttarakhand is to be directly between the Congress and the BJP. The ‘Chanakyas’ of the BJP are well aware that the morale of the Congress has increased significantly due to the major political changes that have occurred in the southern states of India recently. In such a situation, if the elections are held ahead of time, the entire opposition, and especially the Congress, will get very little time to set their electoral pieces and distribute tickets. Not giving the opposition parties a chance to prepare could prove to be a major advantage directly for the BJP.
…………….
Congress’s Growing Confidence Increases BJP’s Worry
………………………………………………………………..
The central leadership of the BJP does not want to make the mistake of taking any challenge from the opposition lightly this time. The reason behind this is the ‘lifeline’ the Congress has received from South India. The Congress-led UDF alliance has registered a magnificent and one-sided victory in Kerala. Meanwhile, in the politics of Tamil Nadu, the Congress has formed a strong government in alliance with superstar Joseph Vijay’s newly formed party, TVK.
……………….
Apart from this, in a large state like Karnataka, by handing over the Chief Minister’s chair to DK Shivakumar in place of Siddaramaiah, the Congress has shown its maturity by transferring power very smoothly without any dispute. Due to all these major events, the Congress is looking in a much better and stronger position than before to form new alliances and contest elections.
…………………
Electoral Suspense in Punjab
………………………………………………………………..
In the politics of Punjab, many speculations are also being made regarding early elections at this time. Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal had also expressed apprehension during a recent visit to Punjab that the elections there could be held in the month of November this year instead of the scheduled time.
…………..
Although, if we look at history, the BJP had to lose power due to holding early elections in the 2004 Lok Sabha polls, which is why the party’s top leadership usually does not favor ‘early polls’. However, the ground-level leaders of the Punjab BJP say that considering the broader administrative interests of the country and the work of the census, holding the elections a few weeks early would be the most correct decision. For this reason, the central leadership has instructed all leaders to forget internal factionalism and be ready 24/7 to conquer the field at any cost.
About the Author
