Lucknow: With an eye on the UP Assembly elections, BJP has identified gaps in its grassroots machinery after its recently held booth-level conventions across the state revealed that nearly one in every 10 booth presidents was either missing from the exercise or suspected to be organisationally inactive.The party will now review its performance and undertake a rejig ahead of the Assembly elections.According to feedback compiled by UP BJP, more than 90% of booth-level office-bearers participated in the conventions held across all 403 Assembly constituencies. However, around 18,000 booth presidents out of the party’s total 1.77 lakh booths were absent from the events, which were addressed by CM Yogi Adityanath, state BJP chief Pankaj Chaudhary and several senior ministers.UP BJP general secretary Dilip Patel, who supervised the exercise, said the absentee booth heads would be reviewed separately by mandal-level functionaries. The assessment, sources said, will go beyond attendance and examine whether the office-bearers have become inactive, disengaged or politically ineffective.The findings are significant for the BJP, which has long credited its electoral successes to an unmatched booth management system. While the overall turnout is being viewed positively, the absence of nearly one in every 10 booth presidents has prompted the leadership to initiate a closer review of its grassroots structure.The exercise comes at a time when BJP rivals Samajwadi Party and its ally Congress have since stepped up outreach among OBCs, Dalits and youth.The emphasis on booth-level conventions reflects BJP’s belief that elections are won or lost at the booths. Political analysts note that the party’s electoral model is built around a tightly structured chain of command stretching from the state leadership to regional, district and booth-level units.Recognising the importance of grassroots mobilisation, UP BJP appointed presidents across all 1.77 lakh booths more than a year ago. The objective, party sources said, was to ensure that every polling station had a designated political manager responsible for voter outreach, beneficiary engagement and day-to-day organisational activity.The ongoing review is expected to result in a significant reshuffle at the grassroots. Booth functionaries who failed to stay connected with workers, did not organise local activities or showed signs of organisational disengagement could be replaced before the election campaign gathers momentum.Analysts said BJP is likely to face a more competitive electoral landscape in 2027 than in the previous Assembly polls. While the SP is seeking to consolidate social coalitions and exploit anti-incumbency sentiment, Congress is attempting to retain political relevance through its alliance with the regional party.For the BJP, booth conventions seem to have served a dual purpose — showcasing organisational strength while identifying weaknesses that could hinder its electoral machinery in the run-up to the assembly elections.
