LUCKNOW: BJP chief Nitin Nabin’s assertion that CM Yogi Adityanath will be the party’s face for the 2027 UP assembly elections has swung the arc-lights back on the saffron outfit’s move of underscoring its clarity on leadership issue besides setting out its political narrative well ahead of the high-stakes poll battle due early next year.Speaking to ‘News 18’ on the sidelines of polling in West Bengal on Thursday, Nabin said: “Look, he (Yogi) is our chief minister, and the government is being run under his leadership. So, naturally, the faces will remain the same,” the BJP chief said, adding that the party is confident of returning to power for the third time under Yogi’s leadership.He said that the state has witnessed a turnaround under Yogi’s leadership over the years.“The state that was once known for extortion and crime is today recognized for its improved law and order and expressways,” Nabin said.Political analysts said that Nabin’s statement underpinned BJP’s stand that the next assembly elections would be fought squarely on the issue of Adityanath’s leadership — turning the upcoming poll battle into a direct judgment on Yogi’s governance rather than a fragmented, multi-issue contest.‘BJP is relying heavily on Yogi’s strong image as firm administrator’Besides reaffirming Yogi’s status of being party’s central figure in UP, Nabin’s stance removes the leadership ambiguity, if any, while seeking to consolidate party cadre around the clear authority well ahead an intense battle.BJP in UP is known to have multiple power centers – organizational leaders, regional satraps and caste-based influencers. Yogi’s endorsement by Nabin publicly may thus serve as a signal to prevent leadership speculation, even as ticket distribution and alliances become contentious closer to elections.The development also marks BJP’s tried and tested bid to push a personality driven campaign. In case of Yogi, the campaign is expected to hover not only around development but also BJP’s trademark Hindutva narrative.The BJP, experts said, has been successfully using strong, identifiable leaders – most prominently PM Narendra Modi at the national level.A senior BJP functionary said that projecting Yogi as BJP’s face in the 2027 polls early suggests the party will again run a leader-centric campaign, emphasizing governance, law-and-order claims, and welfare delivery under his tenure since 2017. The BJP has been heavily relying on Yogi’s strong image as a firm administrator. It has been much profound in the case of urban electorate, essentially the upper caste, and sections of the OBC community. Analysts said that the by “announcing” Yogi as the “face” early clearly indicates BJP bid to turn the exercise into a referendum on Yogi. This is significant to counter the opposition parties like Samajwadi Party or Congress which have been pushing the poll narrative around unemployment, inflation, or social coalitions.The development, sources said, could also help the BJP in moving the pressure on opposition to project a counter face – Akhilesh Yadav in case of Samajwadi Party.Analysts, however, maintain that projection of Yogi for a possible third consecutive term brings into play anti-incumbency. This is crucial even as opposition attempts to ratchet up its PDA poll narrative which is said to have dented the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
