Congress begins preparations to strengthen its base in UP for 2027 Assembly Elections through caste conventions

The Congress party has begun preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The party’s Uttar Pradesh unit plans to hold around 15 separate conventions to strengthen its support among various caste groups.

General Secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh, Avinash Pandey, said here on Tuesday, “Starting mid-October, the party unit will organize 13–15 conventions, each of which will work to connect specific caste groups such as Maurya, Kushwaha, Pasi, Nishad, Lodhi, and Patel.”

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Another senior Congress leader said, “Reviving the Congress in the country’s largest electoral state is certainly not easy. In the post-Mandal Commission era, the party’s traditional vote base has shifted towards the Samajwadi Party, Mayawati’s BSP, and the BJP.”

According to the official, “The party has not had a chief minister in Uttar Pradesh since December 1989. Although the Congress has remained part of the ruling coalition in Bihar, it has not benefited significantly. Congress has been completely out of power in Uttar Pradesh for the last 36 years. Congress leaders also admit that this long absence from power has affected its organization and resources.”

He added that the party is strengthening its grassroots network by visiting weekly markets and local fairs, and meeting families of freedom fighters.

Avinash Pandey said the ongoing organizational expansion programme aims to establish a five-tier party structure in the state, from the state level to the polling station level. “Our goal is to expand the organization to 1.62 lakh booths and 19.78 lakh office-bearers,” he said.

The Congress leader pointed out that the first major test of the party’s revival will be the elections for the 11 Legislative Council seats reserved for teachers and graduates. An even bigger challenge will be the Panchayat elections in 2026, which are often considered the semi-finals before the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

Reacting to the Congress’s plans, Avnish Tyagi, the BJP’s state spokesperson, said, “Congress has no grassroots infrastructure. Their biggest problem in Uttar Pradesh is Rahul Gandhi. Therefore, given these two factors, I doubt their revival in Uttar Pradesh is possible.”