BJP Announces Kalyan Singh's Death Anniversary to be Observed as 'Hindu Gaurav Diwas'. CM Yogi and Several Union Ministers to Attend Program in Aligarh. Party Focuses on Hindutva and Consolidating OBC Vote Bank.
UP Mission 2027: In the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is once again attempting to leverage its biggest political weapons: Hindutva and the OBC equation. For this, the party has chosen the death anniversary of former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh, a prominent figure in Hindutva politics, as its foundation. The BJP is observing this day as 'Hindu Gaurav Diwas' (Hindu Pride Day). The party views this as an initial preparation for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Prominent Leaders to Gather on Kalyan Singh's Death Anniversary
The program being organized in Aligarh will be attended by CM Yogi Adityanath, both Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brijesh Pathak, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, and BJP State President Bhupendra Chaudhary, along with several other prominent leaders. It is reported that approximately two dozen ministers will also be present to pay their respects. This will not be merely a memorial service but is considered the beginning of the BJP's election campaign in Western UP.
Hindutva Agenda to be Advanced Through Kalyan Singh's Image
Kalyan Singh has always been identified as a devotee of Ram and a staunch Hindutva leader. On December 6, 1992, during the demolition of the Babri Masjid, he was the Chief Minister of UP, and at that time, he sacrificed his position to become a hero of the Ram Temple movement. This is why the BJP still uses his image to strengthen the Hindutva agenda. The party believes that reminding voters of Kalyan Singh can increase religious engagement.
Efforts to Woo the Lodhi Community
Kalyan Singh belonged to the Lodhi caste, which is an OBC. In Uttar Pradesh, the Lodhi community comprises approximately three percent of the population, but their role is decisive in about 23 districts of Western and Central UP. This is why the BJP wants to firmly maintain its ties with the Lodhi community by celebrating Kalyan Singh's death anniversary as a major event. The Lodhi community has long been considered a traditional voter base for the BJP, but recent reports have indicated some dissatisfaction within the community.
BJP vs. SP's PDA Politics
This strategy of the BJP is considered a direct response to the Samajwadi Party's PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak - Backward, Dalit, Minority) formula. The SP attempted to unite OBC and Dalit voters through this formula in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and achieved partial success. The BJP now wants to break this narrative of the SP by leveraging Kalyan Singh.
Focus on OBC Vote Bank
In Uttar Pradesh politics, OBC voters play the most important role. The OBC community accounts for approximately 54 percent of the state's total population. Among these, Yadavs constitute 10 percent, Lodhs 3 percent, and Kurmi-Kushwaha and other castes form a significant portion. The BJP's emphasis is on maintaining the support of non-Yadav OBCs. This is the reason why the party is focusing particularly on the Pal, Gadariya, and Baghel communities, as well as the Lodhi community.
Kalyan Singh Changed the BJP's Image
The BJP was once considered a party of the Brahmin-Thakur and Bania communities. But Kalyan Singh played an important role in changing this image. He connected the OBC community with the BJP and gave the BJP a distinct identity during the era of Mandal politics. This is why he has been considered the biggest OBC face of the BJP.
Declining Grip in Western UP, Now Efforts to Improve
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP suffered losses in several seats in Western UP. Seats like Muzaffarnagar, Kairana, Saharanpur, Nagina, and Moradabad slipped out of the party's hands. At the same time, seats with Lodhi influence like Kasganj, Badaun, Aonla, and Sambhal also saw setbacks. The party now wants to strengthen its roots in Western UP by relying on the memory of Kalyan Singh and the Lodhi vote bank.
BJP's Social Engineering
After Kalyan Singh, the BJP does not have a leader of similar stature from the Lodhi community or any large OBC group. In such a situation, the party is trying to strengthen social engineering by using his image as a base. Along with wooing the Lodhi community, the party's aim is to send a message to the non-Yadav OBC voters that the BJP practices politics of their respect and identity.
Opportunity to Send a Political Message
The BJP wants to send a big political message through this entire event. The presence of CM Yogi, Deputy CMs, and Union Ministers makes it clear that the party is not limiting it to just a memorial service. Rather, this is the beginning of Mission 2027 in Western UP and the entire state.
