Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit in Uttar Pradesh has submitted a detailed report to the party’s top leadership outlining the reasons behind its disappointing performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections. The report, developed amidst rumors of internal discord among state leaders, cites issues such as paper leaks, the hiring of contractual workers for government jobs, and the perceived high-handedness of the state administration, which have caused significant dissatisfaction among party workers.
Following the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance’s victory, which secured 43 of the state’s 80 Lok Sabha seats, compared to the NDA’s 36 (a sharp decline from 64 seats in 2019), the state BJP presented a comprehensive 15-page analysis identifying key campaign shortcomings. Sources reveal that feedback from nearly 40,000 individuals was gathered to assess the party’s performance, with a particular focus on crucial constituencies like Ayodhya and Amethi.
The report highlights an 8% decline in BJP’s vote share across Uttar Pradesh and urges the central leadership to take decisive measures to avoid future elections being seen as a contest between advantaged and disadvantaged groups.
Recently, UP BJP President Bhupendra Chaudhary and Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya met with senior party leaders, with further discussions planned as part of a broader strategy revision in response to the party’s electoral setbacks in this critical state.
Speculation about internal strife among state leaders intensified after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attributed the electoral losses to “over-confidence,” a statement that was countered by his deputy, Keshav Maurya, who emphasized the importance of the party and organization over individual opinions.
The report identifies six primary reasons for the BJP’s poor performance: administrative high-handedness, discontent among party workers, frequent paper leaks, employment of contractual workers in government positions, and the reinforcement of opposition narratives about the party’s stance on reservations.
A senior party leader expressed concerns, saying, “The MLA has no power, neither does the MLA… the District Magistrate and officials rule the roost. This is making our workers feel humiliated. For years, the RSS and BJP have worked together, building strong connections in society. Officials cannot replace party workers.” The RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, is credited with building the party’s base from the ground up.
Another leader pointed out that at least 15 paper leaks in the last three years alone have amplified the opposition’s narrative that the BJP aimed to stall reservations. “Additionally, government jobs being filled by contractual workers only strengthened the opposition’s misleading narrative about us,” he added.
BJP President JP Nadda, after attending a state executive meeting in Lucknow, consulted with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Bhupendra Chaudhary, and other key leaders to systematically address these issues.
The report also notes a shift in electoral support, citing diminished backing from the Kurmi and Maurya communities and a reduction in Dalit votes. It acknowledges the decreased vote share of Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress’s improved performance in certain regions as contributing factors.
Sources indicated that the central leadership has emphasized the need for the state unit to resolve internal differences promptly and to commence grassroots work to prevent a sentiment of “agada versus pichada” (upper caste versus backward castes) conflict. Historically favored by OBCs, the UP BJP’s support among these communities surged under Narendra Modi in 2014.
The report further highlights that the opposition effectively raised issues that resonated with the public. It calls for treating party workers with respect and emphasizes the central BJP’s efforts to ensure unity.
In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party secured 37 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, up from five in 2019. The BJP’s tally fell to 33 seats, down from 62, leading to a notable decline in the party’s national tally. The outcome in UP has left the leadership stunned, as they had anticipated significant gains from a state where the Ram temple’s grand consecration ceremony was held earlier this year.
According to the party’s data, its weakest performances were in the west and Kashi (Varanasi) regions, where it won just eight of the 28 seats. In Braj (western UP), the party secured eight out of 13 seats. In Gorakhpur, the stronghold of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the BJP managed only six of 13 seats, while in Awadh (which includes Lucknow, Ayodhya, Faizabad), it won just seven of 16. In Kanpur-Bundelkhand, the BJP secured only four out of 10 seats.
While Yogi Adityanath attributed the poor results to overconfidence, his deputy Keshav Maurya emphasized the importance of strengthening the party organization. The central leadership has instructed state leaders to resolve their differences and focus on the upcoming by-elections for 10 assembly seats vacated for various reasons, including MLAs elected to the Lok Sabha.
“There will be no change in leadership until then. They have asked us to fix things and advised against complaints at this time,” a source remarked, adding that senior party leaders would undertake a statewide tour to different constituencies to connect with voters and mitigate damage.
Recently, Union Minister Anupriya Patel, a BJP ally, wrote to the Chief Minister highlighting the delay in filling quotas for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in state government jobs. Ms. Patel’s Apna Dal has significant influence among Kurmis.
Supporters of Yogi Adityanath argue that his command over the state’s administration and focus on stringent law and order helped the BJP maintain its grip on the state. “The main issue was the repetition of unpopular candidates, which should have been avoided. Baba (Yogi Adityanath) had no role in ticket allocation. As a Chief Minister who has demonstrated his popularity by returning to power, his integrity and commitment are beyond doubt. The central leadership recognizes this,” one MLA close to Mr. Adityanath affirmed.
