Chandrashekhar Azad's Party Unveils 45 Candidates for 2027 UP Elections

In preparation for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram), led by Chandrashekhar Azad, has released a list of 45 probable candidates, including 16 from the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). This marks a strategic move to expand its voter base beyond its traditional Dalit and Muslim supporters.

Early Candidate Announcements Aim to Build Momentum

The candidates, currently designated as "prabharis" or in-charges, will be officially declared closer to the elections, according to Saurabh Kishore, the party’s state vice-president. Kishore, who himself plans to contest from the Misrikh SC-reserved seat, noted that more names would be added to the list in the coming days. Of the 45 announced so far, 18 are from Scheduled Castes (SCs), 16 from OBCs, 10 are Muslims, and one is a Sikh.

The party has also taken the unusual step of fielding SC candidates in five unreserved constituencies: Chharra, Lucknow Cantonment, Govind Nagar, Vishwanathganj, and Bikapur. This strategy underscores the party’s attempt to consolidate support among marginalized communities while also appealing to a broader electorate.

A Calculated Push for a Broader Coalition

The inclusion of a significant number of OBC candidates signals the party’s intent to challenge the dominance of other political players in this key demographic. OBCs, along with SCs and Muslims, make up a substantial 85% of Uttar Pradesh’s population, according to a senior party official. The official added, “Whoever stands for the Bahujan will rule the country. If these social groups come together in our favour, we will win seats.”

This strategy mirrors the formula that helped the party secure its first major electoral victory in 2024, when Chandrashekhar Azad won the Nagina Lok Sabha seat by defeating BJP’s Om Kumar with a margin of 1.51 lakh votes.

A Rivalry with the BSP

The Aazad Samaj Party’s move to announce candidates early makes it the second party, after Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), to begin preparations for the 2027 elections. The two parties share a core Dalit voter base, but relations between them have been tense. Mayawati has previously accused Azad’s outfit of being a “selfish group” propped up by rival parties to dilute Dalit unity and weaken the BSP.

Despite these allegations, the Aazad Samaj Party is determined to carve out its own space in Uttar Pradesh’s political landscape. By naming candidates well in advance, the party aims to give them ample time to build a presence in their constituencies before the election schedule is announced.

Challenges Ahead

While the party’s focus on OBCs and other marginalized groups represents a calculated gamble, its past electoral performance underscores the challenges it faces. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Aazad Samaj Party contested 110 seats but secured only 0.13% of the vote, with all its candidates losing their deposits.

With its latest moves, the party is clearly betting on a broader social coalition to make a stronger impact in 2027. Whether this strategy will translate into electoral gains remains to be seen.

Source: Indian Express