BJP's Vinod Tawde begins week-long UP tour to prep for 2027 Assembly polls
Synopsis
BJP's UP election in-charge Vinod Tawde has launched his third visit to the state in under a month, blanketing Awadh, Purvanchal, and Kashi with booth-level reviews and legislator performance audits — a clear signal that the party is treating the 2027 UP Assembly elections as a now-or-never organisational exercise, nearly two years before polling day.
Key Takeaways
Vinod Tawde , BJP's Uttar Pradesh election in-charge, began a week-long multi-district tour on 17 September covering Awadh, Purvanchal, and Kashi regions.
This is his third visit to Uttar Pradesh since being named election in-charge on 18 August .
Gorakhpur meetings on 17–18 September will review booths the BJP lost in the 2024 Parliamentary elections .
Tawde moves to the Awadh region on 19–20 September , then chairs strategy sessions in Prayagraj on 21–22 September .
He attacked the SP's 'PDA' slogan, saying it stands for 'Paraya Dhan Apna' and reaffirmed the NDA's bid for a third consecutive UP government.
The visit follows a coordination meeting in Lucknow on Wednesday, 16 September .
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary and Uttar Pradesh Election In-charge Vinod Tawde on Thursday, 17 September launched a week-long, multi-district tour of the Awadh and Purvanchal regions to intensify the party's ground-level preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. This marks his third visit to the state since being formally named election in-charge on 18 August.
Itinerary and Key Focus Areas
Tawde's engagements in Gorakhpur on Thursday and Friday centre on discussions with booth-level workers and a detailed review of booths the party lost during the 2024 Parliamentary elections. The ground work follows a coordination meeting held in Lucknow on Wednesday.
He is scheduled to arrive in the Awadh region on 19 September, with worker-level meetings continuing through 20 September. On 21 and 22 September, Tawde will chair strategy sessions in Prayagraj to chart the party's roadmap for the Kashi region.
Legislator Performance Review and Candidate Assessment
According to a party leader, the visit will focus on collecting feedback on the performance of sitting legislators and evaluating potential candidates for the 2027 contests. Interactions will span party workers from the regional down to the district level across both Awadh and Purvanchal — two electorally crucial belts that collectively account for a large share of the state's 403 Assembly seats.
Notably, the visit comes at a stage when internal performance audits and booth-level strengthening are standard BJP pre-election protocols, a pattern observed ahead of every state cycle since 2017.
Tawde Meets CM Yogi, Posts on X
Ahead of the tour, Tawde met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and subsequently posted on social media platform X: 'UP ki raftaar rahegi barkaraar; teesri baar banegi NDA sarkaar' — projecting a third consecutive National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the state.
Attack on Samajwadi Party Over 'PDA' Slogan
Tawde also went on the offensive against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, targeting the Opposition's 'PDA' (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) political formulation. Addressing reporters, he said: 'We will beat the slogans of SP-PDA. 'PDA' and 'SP' mean 'Paraya Dhan Apna'. The NDA will never let this happen.'
He further asserted that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has become the world's largest political party, while Adityanath is 'accelerating the pace of development' in Uttar Pradesh. Tawde also invoked the state party unit head, noting that UP BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary would lead NDA workers into the 2027 polls with full energy.
What This Signals for 2027
The early and sustained organisational push — three visits in under a month — reflects the BJP's recognition that Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state and its largest contributor to Lok Sabha seats, remains the centrepiece of its national electoral arithmetic. Retaining the state in 2027 is seen as vital for the party's prospects ahead of the 2029 general elections. All eyes will be on how the SP responds to BJP's aggressive booth-level mobilisation over the coming months.
Point of View
Where it haemorrhaged seats it once dominated. The booth-level loss review is particularly telling: granular post-mortem analysis at this stage is unusual and suggests the party is not taking incumbency for granted. Tawde's rhetorical broadside on SP's PDA framing is also revealing — the BJP clearly views the Opposition's social coalition as a genuine threat rather than a passing slogan. Whether early organisational intensity translates into voter connection, especially in a state where anti-incumbency can crystallise quickly, remains the central question.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vinod Tawde visiting Uttar Pradesh?
Vinod Tawde is visiting Uttar Pradesh as the BJP's National General Secretary and state election in-charge to accelerate preparations for the 2027 Assembly elections. His week-long tour covers Awadh, Purvanchal, and Kashi regions, with a focus on booth-level reviews, legislator performance feedback, and candidate assessment.
How many times has Tawde visited UP since being named election in-charge?
This is Tawde's third visit to Uttar Pradesh since being appointed the party's election in-charge for the state on 18 August 2026. The frequency of visits reflects the BJP's intensified push ahead of the 2027 polls.
What is the schedule for Tawde's UP tour?
Tawde held meetings in Gorakhpur on 17–18 September, moves to the Awadh region on 19–20 September, and chairs strategy sessions in Prayagraj for the Kashi region on 21–22 September. The week-long tour follows a coordination meeting held in Lucknow on 16 September.
What did Tawde say about the Samajwadi Party's PDA slogan?
Tawde attacked the SP's 'PDA' formulation, claiming it stands for 'Paraya Dhan Apna' — meaning the party appropriates others' wealth. He said the NDA would counter the SP-PDA narrative and contest the 2027 elections with full vigour.
Why does Uttar Pradesh matter so much for the BJP in 2027?
Uttar Pradesh, with 403 Assembly seats, is India's most populous state and the largest contributor to Lok Sabha seats. Retaining it in 2027 is seen as critical for the BJP's national electoral calculations ahead of the 2029 general elections, making early and intensive ground-level work a strategic priority.
