Organisational reshuffle: In 8 Uttar Pradesh picks of BJP 3.0, pitch for PDA + women

Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections lie ahead and BJP national president Nitin Nabin has bolstered the party's ranks with eight new office-bearers from the state. This is one more than the previous team, with two representatives in each category of vice-presidents, general secretaries, secretaries, and presidents of two party cells or morchas.

Smriti Irani, a former MP from Amethi, is among the high-profile additions. Assam party in-charge Harish Dwivedi has been appointed as one of the eight general secretaries. Retaining Rekha Verma and Tariq Mansoor as national vice-presidents, Nabin has also selected sitting MPs Bhola Singh, a Dalit, and Sangeeta Yadav as national secretaries.

The eight UP picks in the party's central team signify Nabin's intention to counter the Opposition's strategy of alienating Dalits and Most Backward Classes, and to maintain a stable Upper Caste vote bank.

Dwivedi's elevation to the national team is particularly noteworthy, given the BJP's decision to drop Rajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Bajpai, a veteran leader of the same community and another prominent Brahmin face. Bajpai, who was serving as the national vice-president, was recently appointed to oversee Rajasthan local body polls. His dismissal is believed to have been prompted by reports of simmering discontent over new UGC regulations among upper-caste students, which were later stayed by the Supreme Court.

Nabin's strategy to counter the Opposition's PDA (Pichchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) pitch is evident in the appointment of Rajya Sabha member Amarpal Maurya as the national president of OBC morcha, strengthening the party's grip over the OBCs in the state. UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, who belongs to the same caste, has also been appointed as a national vice-president.

Another significant appointment from UP is Kunwar Basit Ali, who now heads the national minority morcha. While previously serving as the state president of UP BJP minority morcha, Ali is a Muslim Rajput belonging to a community with cordial relations with Hindus. His appointment could help pacify Muslim sentiments, which may otherwise turn against the BJP if they unite with other parties like SP, BSP, or Congress.