Lucknow: Setting the political tone for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday called upon voters to support the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), launching a strong critique of the Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which he accused of promoting “dynastic politics.”
Addressing the Uttar Pradesh Diwas celebrations at Rashtra Prerna Sthal in Lucknow on the occasion of the state’s foundation day, Shah said Uttar Pradesh had decisively moved beyond its long-standing image as a “Bimaru” (backward) state after the BJP assumed power in 2017. The event was attended by chief minister Yogi Adityanath, deputy chief ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, and BJP state president Pankaj Chaudhary.
“Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh was known for stagnation. Today, it is among the growth engines of the Indian economy and has become a revenue-surplus state,” Shah said, crediting the transformation to improved governance and law and order.
The home minister said the state, once viewed primarily as a supplier of migrant labour, is now playing a central role in India’s economic expansion. He attributed this shift to what he described as the “double-engine government” led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Centre and chief minister Yogi Adityanath in the state.
With Assembly elections expected in March–April 2027, Shah openly appealed to voters to return the BJP to power with a decisive mandate. “I urge the people of Uttar Pradesh to once again vote for the BJP and ensure a full majority in the 2027 elections,” he said.
Taking aim at opposition parties, Shah described the Congress, SP and BSP as “parivarwadi” formations that, he claimed, were incapable of ensuring sustained welfare and development. He urged voters to rise above caste-based politics and reject family-centric leadership models.
Highlighting infrastructure growth, Shah pointed to the expansion of national highways, the highest number of operational airports in any Indian state, and the Defence Industrial Corridor, where strategic systems such as BrahMos missiles are being manufactured. He also cited improvements in power supply, policing and administrative efficiency.
According to Shah, corruption has been significantly curbed and crime rates have declined sharply, with dacoity down by 94% and robbery reduced by over 80%. He said villages are now receiving a minimum of 20 hours of electricity daily.
On investment, Shah said Uttar Pradesh has attracted proposals worth ₹45 lakh crore, with projects worth ₹15 lakh crore already implemented. He added that IT exports have crossed ₹2,000 crore and the state is emerging as a preferred destination for data centres, semiconductor facilities and electronics manufacturing.
Touching upon cultural initiatives, Shah said the construction of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya marked the fulfilment of a centuries-old aspiration, while events such as the Mahakumbh in Prayagraj have showcased India’s spiritual heritage on the global stage.
He also highlighted youth-focused schemes, stating that one lakh young people are being provided interest-free, collateral-free loans of up to ₹5 lakh annually, with a 10% subsidy. So far, over 1.3 lakh beneficiaries have received loans amounting to more than ₹5,300 crore.
Praising the redevelopment of Rashtra Prerna Sthal, Shah said the site—once a large garbage dump—has been transformed into a symbol of inspiration under the BJP government’s “waste-to-wealth” approach. He added that the statues of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and Atal Bihari Vajpayee would continue to guide future generations.
The BJP returned to power in Uttar Pradesh in 2022 with a landslide victory, winning 312 of the 403 Assembly seats. However, the party faced a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, securing 33 of the state’s 80 seats, compared to 62 in 2019. The Samajwadi Party emerged as the largest gainer, while the Congress also improved its tally—making the 2027 Assembly contest a closely watched political battle.
