UP Assembly Elections: BJP May Drop Over 100 Sitting MLAs Amid Anti-Incumbency Concerns

By Political Bureau | New Delhi Chronicle

NEW DELHI — In a major move ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is reportedly preparing to drop over 100 sitting Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs). The strategy aims to counter ground-level anti-incumbency and address growing voter dissatisfaction.

Internal Assessment Triggers Action

The decision follows a comprehensive internal assessment conducted across the 255 seats currently held by the party in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

According to party sources, the survey highlighted severe anti-incumbency challenges, a decline in public trust, and friction between local lawmakers and the party’s organizational leadership. To maintain its political hold in the state, the leadership has decided to review candidate viability strictly based on local performance and ground feedback.

Speculation Grows Over Union Cabinet Reshuffle

Adding to the political momentum, the BJP’s decision not to re-nominate Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Union Minister of State BL Verma from Uttar Pradesh for the Rajya Sabha has fueled intense speculation about an impending Union Cabinet reshuffle.

Under Article 75(5) of the Indian Constitution, a minister must be a member of either House of Parliament to remain in office; failing to secure a seat within six consecutive months requires them to demit office.

With the Rajya Sabha terms of both ministers concluding on November 25, their omission from the UP candidate list leaves two possibilities:

1. The leadership is planning an alternative path for their entry into Parliament.

2. The party is laying the groundwork for a broader reorganization of the central cabinet.

As candidate selections near completion, the party’s double move—revitalizing its ground strength in Uttar Pradesh while restructuring its central leadership—signals a high-stakes push for the electoral contest ahead.

t