Smriti Irani's big comeback: Why BJP has turned to its 'giant killer'
Smriti Irani is reappointed as a general secretary for the BJP's national team, a move that highlights the party's strategic push in Uttar Pradesh ahead of upcoming elections. Following setbacks in the recent Lok Sabha elections, her previous success in Amethi positions her as a critical asset. This role will see her coordinating with state units and overseeing candidate selections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reintroduced Smriti Irani to its core team, marking her big comeback as a national general secretary. Irani, who served as a Union minister over a year ago, was dropped from the cabinet after losing the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Amethi. Despite her setbacks, Irani described her political journey as "deeply humbling" and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Nitin Nabin for reposing faith in her.
She expressed her commitment to strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level and contributing to the party's vision of a "Viksit Bharat."
The BJP's decision to bring Irani back as a national general secretary is seen as a strategic move, signaling the party's preparation for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly election in early 2027. This election will be a significant test for the BJP, especially after their losses in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections where the opposition INDIA bloc performed better, winning 43 out of 80 seats, while the NDA secured 36 seats, with the BJP winning 33 seats.
Uttar Pradesh is of paramount importance to the BJP, as it was the stronghold of the Gandhi family, particularly Rahul Gandhi, who had represented Amethi since 2004. Smriti Irani's biggest political achievement came in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where she defeated Rahul Gandhi by a margin of 55,120 votes. Her association with Amethi began in 2014 when the BJP was expanding aggressively across Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.
Although she lost the 2024 election, her political identity remains deeply connected to Uttar Pradesh.
Irani's appointment as a national general secretary comes at a time when the BJP is focusing on women voters, who have emerged as a reliable electoral constituency for the party over the past decade. Through various welfare schemes, the BJP has built a strong base of female beneficiaries. Irani's background as a former Union minister for women and child development and as the president of the BJP Mahila Morcha further strengthens her role in this strategy.
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