A high-level coordination meeting between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) held in Ghaziabad, focused on early preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and ensuring unified messaging on key issues, including religious matters and social outreach.
A senior BJP functionary privy to the meeting said, "Both RSS and BJP expressed concern over attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh and elsewhere. The Sangh stressed that the interests of the Hindu community must be addressed urgently."
BJP sources emphasized the need to start election preparations early, especially in light of the party’s setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP secured only 13 out of 26 seats in western Uttar Pradesh, a decline from 18 in 2019. Overall, its seat tally in the state dropped from 62 in 2019 to 33 in 2024. The party was ultimately forced to form a coalition government at the Centre after failing to secure a majority on its own.
One of the key issues discussed was the need for better coordination between the BJP and RSS. Post-election analyses highlighted differences between the two organizations, but efforts have been made to mend ties, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself praising the Sangh’s role. BJP’s successes in Maharashtra and Haryana were attributed to extensive outreach efforts led by RSS volunteers, and a similar approach is expected to play a crucial role in Uttar Pradesh.
“The main difference between other parties and BJP is that we start preparing early, which gives us an advantage. After the 2024 results, we have to strategize early," said a senior BJP functionary.
According to party insiders, discussions revolved around upcoming organizational elections, including those for the national president and state unit chief in Uttar Pradesh. A BJP leader, requesting anonymity, said, "The idea was to bond further before the assembly elections in the state and also before the election of the party’s national president and the state unit chief in UP."
An RSS functionary highlighted the need for coordination between the BJP and RSS on religious and ideological issues. “There are multiple issues like Mathura and Kashi. RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale has already stated that the Sangh will not stop its members from supporting the efforts of VHP and others on the Kashi Vishwanath temple-Gyanvapi mosque issue in Varanasi and the Krishna Janmabhoomi issue in Mathura. At the same time, Hosabale said the Aurangzeb tomb controversy was unnecessary. The idea behind the coordination meeting is to ensure BJP and RSS remain on the same page.”
The RSS also stressed the importance of mobilizing key demographic groups, particularly Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Dalits. The BJP leadership reiterated its commitment to protecting the interests of all social groups through various welfare schemes.
The 2024 Lok Sabha elections saw the BJP facing unexpected resistance from the Samajwadi Party’s “Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (PDA)” strategy, which consolidated support among backward classes, Dalits, and minorities. BJP leaders acknowledged the need for renewed efforts to consolidate its base among these communities ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.
As part of its electoral strategy, the BJP has undertaken a major organizational revamp, appointing 70 new district presidents across Uttar Pradesh, including in Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. The leadership has emphasized the need for strong coordination between BJP and RSS functionaries in the state.
A leader who attended the meeting said, “The stakes are high for the 2027 elections. If the BJP and RSS work together with better coordination, the party cannot be defeated.”
The meeting was attended by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and several prominent BJP leaders, including state BJP chief Bhupendra Choudhary.
