Agencies | Lacknow:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is considering a major reshuffle of its candidate line-up for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with a majority of its sitting Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) likely to be fielded in the polls, according to party sources.
Sources told a local news channel on Wednesday that the BJP’s central leadership has asked its MLCs to prepare for the Assembly elections and identify constituencies where they believe they have a strong electoral prospect. The proposed move could mark a significant shift in the party’s candidate-selection strategy ahead of the crucial state polls.
“The leadership has asked MLCs to be prepared for assembly elections and identify constituencies where they have a strong chance of winning. The party is looking at several options, and a majority of its MLCs could be fielded,” a senior BJP source told a local news agency.
Among the prominent leaders who could be considered for Assembly tickets are Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, senior minister AK Sharma, Swatantra Dev Singh and Dara Singh Chauhan, all currently serving as MLCs.
Former BJP state president Bhupendra Singh Chaudhary and other senior leaders are also understood to be part of the pool of potential candidates. Their selection, however, would depend on the party’s assessment of constituencies and individual electoral prospects.
The possible induction of MLCs into the Assembly contest comes amid indications that the BJP may drop a considerable number of its sitting MLAs as part of a broader exercise to refresh its candidate line-up. According to sources, the party is examining electoral prospects, local political equations and organisational feedback while reviewing its existing legislators.
If implemented, the strategy could provide an opportunity for experienced organisational leaders and senior ministers to contest Assembly seats, while creating space for new faces in constituencies where incumbent legislators may be facing anti-incumbency or other electoral challenges.
The party is expected to consider several factors before finalising its candidates, including constituency-level surveys, the standing of local leaders, caste equations and the performance of sitting MLAs. The final decision on candidate selection is likely to rest with the BJP’s central leadership.
The proposed exercise assumes significance as Uttar Pradesh remains a key state in the BJP’s national political strategy. With the 2027 Assembly elections approaching, the party is expected to step up its organisational preparations and assess the electoral prospects of its legislators well ahead of the formal candidate-selection process.
However, the proposed changes remain at the stage of internal deliberations. The BJP has not made any official announcement regarding its candidate-selection strategy. The number of MLCs who may be fielded and the extent of changes among sitting MLAs will become clear as the party progresses with its preparations for the elections.
