Nabin Assigns Tawde to UP, Poonia to Punjab Ahead of 2027 Polls

NEW DELHI, Aug 19: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reshuffled its organisational responsibilities in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Gujarat ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with party president Nitin Nabin assigning senior leaders to oversee preparations in the three politically significant States.

Rajya Sabha MP and BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde has been appointed the party’s in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, while newly appointed national secretary Jagdish Ishwarbhai Patel will serve as co-in-charge. Rajya Sabha MP Satish Poonia has been given responsibility for Punjab, while national general secretary Tarun Chugh will oversee Gujarat, according to a party statement.

The appointments come as the BJP begins preparations for a series of State elections that are expected to have wider political implications ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha contest. Uttar Pradesh and Punjab are scheduled to hold Assembly elections early next year, while Gujarat is expected to go to the polls later in 2027.

Tawde gets key Uttar Pradesh responsibility

Tawde’s appointment assumes particular significance in Uttar Pradesh, which has 80 Lok Sabha seats and 403 Assembly constituencies and remains central to the BJP’s national electoral strategy.

The party is seeking to consolidate its position in the State and prepare for another term in government. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections, however, highlighted challenges for the BJP, which lost considerable ground in several constituencies and social groups.

The party is now focusing on strengthening its organisational network and improving coordination between its State leadership and central leadership before the Assembly elections.

Tawde is regarded within the BJP as an experienced organisational strategist with a reputation for managing different groups and coordinating election campaigns. He previously handled the party’s organisational responsibilities in Bihar and has been involved in alliance coordination at the national level.

His experience includes overseeing coordination during the 2022 presidential election, when Droupadi Murmu was the NDA’s candidate. He was also entrusted with coordinating alliance partners during the 2025 vice-presidential election involving NDA candidate C P Radhakrishnan.

The BJP expects his organisational experience to help address internal differences, strengthen grassroots mobilisation and improve coordination among various factions in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the appointments and congratulated Tawde and Patel on being assigned responsibility for party affairs in the State.

Poonia tasked with rebuilding BJP base in Punjab

In Punjab, the BJP has appointed Satish Poonia as State in-charge as it seeks to strengthen its organisational and political presence ahead of the Assembly elections.

The position had remained vacant following the death of former Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP leader Vijay Rupani in the Air India Flight 171 crash in June 2025.

Poonia brings previous organisational experience from Haryana, where he served as the BJP’s State in-charge ahead of the Assembly elections. His new assignment comes at a time when the party is attempting to expand its support base in Punjab and improve its connect with farmers and rural voters.

The BJP has faced political challenges in the State, particularly following the farmers’ protests. Strengthening its State organisation and rebuilding relations with important voter groups are expected to remain among the party’s priorities.

Punjab has 117 Assembly constituencies, with the next election expected to be held in February 2027.

Chugh to oversee Gujarat

Tarun Chugh has been given responsibility for Gujarat, another State where the BJP will face an Assembly election in 2027.

The party has maintained a strong electoral presence in Gujarat for several years, and the organisational appointment is aimed at ensuring that the State unit remains prepared for the upcoming contest.

The latest appointments were announced a day after the BJP unveiled a new national team to assist Nabin in running the organisation.

The new team includes 13 national vice-presidents, eight general secretaries and 16 secretaries. Nine of the vice-presidents, six general secretaries and 15 secretaries are new appointees.

With major State elections approaching, the BJP’s latest organisational changes signal an early focus on booth-level preparation, leadership coordination and electoral mobilisation across key States.