SP, BSP Strategize for 2027 UP Elections, Target Non-Yadav OBCs and Dalit Voters
Samajwadi Party strengthens outreach to non-Yadav OBCs, while Bahujan Samaj Party aims to consolidate Dalit support ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections.
New Delhi, Sep 20 : With over a year and a half remaining before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) have commenced early preparations to consolidate their voter base. Both parties are focusing on non-Yadav OBCs and Dalit communities to replicate and expand their 2024 Lok Sabha election performance.
The SP’s strategy is particularly focused on non-Yadav OBC groups that have shown signs of drifting away from the BJP in recent years. Senior party leaders met with representatives from the Saini, Kushwaha, and Shakya communities to organize PDA Chaupals (outreach meetings) aimed at strengthening grassroots support. Following these initiatives, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is expected to address dedicated rallies for these communities in the coming months.
Communities such as Gujjars, Kushwahas, and Pasis have shown signs of shifting away from the BJP since the 2022 Assembly and 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Successes like Pallavi Patel’s victory from Sirathu (Kaushambi), Babu Singh Kushwaha’s election from Jaunpur, and Awadhesh Prasad’s win from Faizabad (Ayodhya) underscore this trend. Buoyed by its PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) coalition, which helped SP secure 38 Lok Sabha seats, the party is now expanding outreach to marginalized communities beyond its traditional Yadav base.
Meanwhile, the BSP, recovering from recent electoral setbacks, is also intensifying its efforts to consolidate Dalit votes. Party supremo Mayawati is scheduled to address a rally of block-level workers in Lucknow on October 9, marking the death anniversary of founder Kanshi Ram. The party is reorganizing its cadres with a focus on strengthening Dalit support and may re-induct former leaders such as Swami Prasad Maurya to boost its organizational strength.
To facilitate the October 9 rally, BSP has arranged at least one bus per four Assembly constituencies, with party workers tasked with organizing transportation for supporters. The rally is seen as a key step in countering SP’s growing influence among Dalit voters and preparing for the upcoming 2027 polls.
