In Uttarakhand, why BJP is ‘micro-managing’ 23 seats it lost in 2022

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is engaging in a micro-management strategy for the 23 Assembly constituencies it lost in the 2022 Uttarakhand election, with the aim of bolstering the party's prospects ahead of the 2027 polls. The senior leaders overseeing these constituencies will visit their assigned areas, assess the political landscape, collaborate with local party leaders, and foster an environment favorable to the BJP's victory in the upcoming election.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who lost his Khatima seat, has been tasked with overseeing the party's operations in Khatima. The seat, which is highly competitive, has frequently seen a shift in the electorate, particularly among Gen Z voters who are increasingly inclined towards opposing the incumbent party.

The micro-management initiative comes in the wake of the Congress party's success in capturing 19 of the 23 seats that the BJP lost in the 2022 election. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Independent candidates managed to secure two seats each. A senior BJP source revealed that these leaders will engage in detailed assessments of the political climate in their respective constituencies and will work in tandem with local party operatives to devise strategies aimed at winning these crucial seats in the 2027 polls.

While the final decision on whether Dhami will contest in Khatima or Champawat, his current constituency, rests with the party's central leadership, insiders believe that Champawat, Dhami's hometown, would be a more suitable venue for his electoral campaign. In this vein, party insiders feel that Dhami's familiarity with the local populace and his capability to address public grievances and workers' concerns would be advantageous in his bid for re-election.

In addition to Dhami, other high-ranking party figures have been entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring a strong BJP presence in their assigned constituencies. Among them are Deputy President of the BJP state and Rajya Sabha MP Mahendra Bhatt, who has been assigned the challenging Piran Kaliyar seat, a Muslim-dominated constituency in Haridwar district. The Congress party has held this seat since 2012.

Another challenging constituency, Manglaur, has been assigned to Naresh Bansal, a Rajya Sabha MP and BJP national co-treasurer. This Muslim-dominated seat has been won by candidates from the BSP and Congress until now. The BJP has not previously won the constituencies of Chakrata and Dharchula, and these have been assigned to party general secretary Deepti Rawat and senior leader Ganesh Bhandari, respectively.

The BJP's central leadership may also take into account the performance of these assigned leaders in their respective constituencies during the preparation for the 2027 elections. A recent report emphasizes that former chief ministers, ministers, MPs, and other senior BJP leaders will be tasked with encouraging public participation in party activities and campaigns in these 23 seats. They are expected to maintain a presence during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly Mann Ki Baat address on radio and television.