Archive · 1 Oct 2026
Awadh Voters Reconsider BJP Ahead of Uttar Pradesh 2027
Awadh is a region in central Uttar Pradesh that includes Ayodhya, Amethi and Lucknow.
In the 2024 national election, the Bharatiya Janata Party lost 11 of the region’s 16 seats.
Some voters now say they may have made a mistake by not supporting the party.
They also say former Amethi MP Smriti Irani worked hard for the area.
The BJP hopes support for Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath will help it recover in the 2027 state election.
It is also warning voters about law and order under a possible Samajwadi Party government.
The Samajwadi Party has started a PDA Rath Yatra to build support.
Its leaders say the BJP’s bulldozer politics now represents oppression.
Both parties still face challenges, including dissatisfaction with local BJP legislators and internal political competition.
The BJP lost 11 of Awadh’s 16 Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 elections, including Ayodhya, Amethi and Sultanpur.
Some voters in Awadh say they regret turning away from the Narendra Modi-Yogi Adityanath combination in 2024.
The BJP is emphasizing Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath and law and order while criticizing a possible return of Samajwadi Party rule.
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has launched a PDA Rath Yatra from Rae Bareli and says the BJP’s bulldozer model has become a liability.
The BJP faces voter grievances over local legislators, while the Samajwadi Party faces BJP claims that its momentum may have peaked.
- Who
- Voters, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Samajwadi Party, Narendra Modi, Yogi Adityanath and Akhilesh Yadav are central to the report.
- What
- Political parties are competing to shape voter opinion in Awadh ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
- When
- The report was published on October 1, 2026, ahead of the 2027 Assembly election; Akhilesh Yadav began the PDA Rath Yatra the previous week.
- Where
- Awadh in central Uttar Pradesh, including Ayodhya, Amethi, Lucknow, Rae Bareli and surrounding areas.
- Why
- The BJP is seeking a comeback after losing 11 of 16 Awadh seats in 2024, while the Samajwadi Party is building on its 2024 performance.
Samajwadi Party’s View
Bharatiya Janata Party’s View
Campaign strategy
Samajwadi Party’s View
The Samajwadi Party says the BJP’s bulldozer model has become a symbol of oppression and will not work in 2027.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s View
The BJP is emphasizing law and order and warning voters about the alleged lawlessness, rowdyism and minority appeasement of a possible return to Samajwadi Party rule.
Political momentum
Samajwadi Party’s View
The Samajwadi Party is upbeat after its 2024 performance and is using Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA Rath Yatra to organize support.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s View
The BJP says the Samajwadi Party may have peaked too early and reached a plateau after its 2024 success, while the BJP will peak at the right time.
Party unity and local performance
Samajwadi Party’s View
A senior Samajwadi Party leader claims the BJP is divided over leadership and faces strong anti-incumbency against its sitting legislators.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s View
The BJP acknowledges that voters have complaints about some BJP legislators but believes support for the Modi-Yogi combination and Ayodhya can drive a comeback.
- Region
- Awadh, central Uttar Pradesh
- 2024 BJP performance
- Lost 11 of Awadh’s 16 Lok Sabha seats
- Earlier BJP performance
- Won 14 Awadh seats in both 2014 and 2019
- Key BJP losses
- Ayodhya, Amethi, Sultanpur and Barabanki
- Samajwadi Party campaign
- PDA Rath Yatra launched from Rae Bareli
- BJP campaign themes
- The Modi-Yogi factor and law and order
- Main BJP vulnerability
- Voter grievances and possible anti-incumbency against sitting BJP legislators