With less than two years to go before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself grappling with severe leadership gaps, internal factionalism, and organisational paralysis. Despite being the ruling party in India’s most populous state, the BJP’s preparation for what is being called a semi-final to the 2029 Lok Sabha elections is plagued with delays and discontent.

The state lacks a full-time prabhari (in-charge), 28 district president posts remain vacant, and tensions within the core group—including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy CMs Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and organisational heads Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and Dharampal Singh—have exposed the growing rift within the party.

Three Months and 28 Vacant Districts

On March 16, 2025, the BJP appointed 70 new district presidents out of 98 organisational units. These appointments were made with caste balance in mind: 39 upper caste, 25 OBCs, and 6 from Scheduled Castes. 44 were new faces, while 26 were retained. However, 28 crucial districts, including Chandauli—the home district of UP election in-charge Mahendra Nath Pandey—still have no appointed leadership, months after the partial rollout.

According to Pandey, the delay is not a lack of effort but of central clearance:

“We are actively considering names. The central leadership has been informed. Once directions are received, we will proceed.”

Yet political analysts are not convinced. Many believe the real issue is internal conflict and lack of consensus among BJP’s top brass in UP.

Factionalism and Leadership Disagreements

Dr Shashikant Pandey, head of Political Science at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, states the delays are not procedural but political:

“The party leadership lacks internal consensus. The BJP in UP is now a coalition of powerful sub-factions, each with their own goals and loyalties. This power tussle is the root cause of the organisational stalemate.”

Disagreements between Adityanath, Maurya, Pathak, and senior party figures like Chaudhary and Dharampal Singh have paralyzed important decisions. The Natwar Goyal controversy stands as the most visible flashpoint in this internal battle.

The Natwar Goyal Controversy

In February 2025, Natwar Goyal was appointed Vice-President of the Uttar Pradesh Vyapar Kalyan Board. Goyal, once linked to the Akhil Bharatiya Vaishya Mahasangh, had minimal BJP grassroots experience. His nomination sparked strong opposition from within the Vaishya and trader communities, many of whom felt long-serving BJP workers were sidelined for political convenience.

The move was widely criticized as being influenced by internal power blocs. BJP leaders reportedly sent letters to the central leadership in Delhi, exposing deep fissures between community representatives and the organisational leadership.

Absence of State In-Charge Amplifies Crisis

One of the most glaring gaps is the lack of a full-time BJP prabhari for Uttar Pradesh. Since Radha Mohan Singh vacated the position in 2023, the BJP high command has not appointed a replacement. As a result, even minor internal disputes must be escalated to Delhi—causing administrative stagnation and weakening morale at the grassroots.

“A strong, neutral prabhari could have helped reconcile differences locally,” said Dr. Pandey.

Impact in Districts Like Gonda and Others

In Gonda, the party is yet to replace former district president Amar Kishore Kashyap, who was removed after a controversial video surfaced. The absence of strong leadership is affecting Awadh, Kanpur, Kashi, Gorakhpur, and Braj regions where acting presidents lack authority to make decisions or energise the base.

Minority Commission and Other Delays

The Uttar Pradesh Minority Commission still remains headless with no chairperson or members appointed. Similarly, appointments for nominated councillors have also been delayed.

This pattern points to systemic inertia, driven by unresolved internal conflicts, factional interests, and the absence of central mediation.

2024 Reality Check and 2027 Warning

Despite winning 255 of 403 seats in the 2022 Assembly elections, BJP suffered setbacks in 2024, signaling that its electoral dominance is not unshakable. The 2027 election is now seen not just as a litmus test for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, but as a national barometer for 2029.

If the party leadership fails to bridge internal divides, and delays continue to undermine party machinery, the BJP could face unexpected headwinds in a state considered its stronghold.

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