Lucknow: Although the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are scheduled for 2027, political activity in the state has already intensified. The Congress party has accelerated its preparations, finalising its roadmap during a meeting of the Political Affairs Committee held at the party’s state headquarters in Lucknow. Senior leaders discussed key public issues such as MNREGA, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and upcoming Panchayat elections.
The meeting began with floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, symbolising the party’s Gandhian legacy. UP Congress President Ajay Rai said that every party worker would be mobilised to take the government head-on, from the streets to village-level institutions. The five-point resolution adopted at the meeting signalled an intensified phase of mass movements and organisational strengthening.
The meeting was attended by state in-charge Avinash Pandey, Ajay Rai, senior leaders, MPs and MLAs. A major focus was Mission 2026, aimed at preparing the party for Panchayat elections. Under this, the Congress will organise Samvidhan Samvad Mahapanchayats to highlight constitutional values and launch the MNREGA Bachao Sangram to corner the Yogi government over rural employment issues.
Ajay Rai alleged that the BJP government was weakening MNREGA and announced a special 100-day campaign on the issue. He claimed that workers had not received wages for months and that only about 40 percent of MNREGA targets were achieved in Uttar Pradesh in 2025, following a 20 percent cut in central funding. The Congress termed this an insult to Mahatma Gandhi’s vision and promised guaranteed employment if voted to power.
The issue of Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists also dominated discussions. Rai accused the Election Commission and the BJP of acting in haste, alleging that dozens of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) died during the process due to health emergencies. He claimed that over 1.5 crore names—mostly of poor and minority voters—were removed from electoral rolls, calling it an attack on democracy. The party demanded compensation for families of deceased BLOs.
The Congress also decided to intensify outreach through the OBC Department and to launch the Parivartan Pratigya Abhiyan from January 12, which will continue throughout the year. The campaign is expected to coincide with celebrations of Priyanka Gandhi’s birthday across the state.
Beyond meetings, the party plans a series of mass rallies. A major rally is proposed at Rambai Maidan in Lucknow, potentially featuring Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Between January and February, more than 17 rallies are planned across the state, starting from Varanasi and covering major regions including Ghaziabad and Lucknow. A Constitution-focused mega rally is scheduled in Varanasi on February 8.
The Congress has announced that it will contest the Panchayat elections independently. Boosted by its improved performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the party is preparing across all 403 Assembly constituencies. MP Imran Masood said the party was confident of fighting on its own strength.
Party insiders suggest that Priyanka Gandhi may once again take an active role in Uttar Pradesh politics. The Congress plans to highlight its 140-year legacy through training programmes, digital campaigns and grassroots movements. Leaders said that upcoming elections in 2026—including Rajya Sabha, MLC, Panchayat polls and by-elections—will serve as a semi-final for 2027.
Senior leaders including Pramod Tiwari, KL Sharma, Ajay Kumar Lallu, Supriya Shrinate and Imran Masood attended the meeting. Emphasising outreach to OBCs, Dalits and minorities, Congress leaders said the party is determined to reclaim political ground in Uttar Pradesh. The meeting, they said, marked not just a discussion, but the sounding of the election bugle for 2027.
