BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde began his Uttar Pradesh assignment on Saturday with a pointed attack on Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav, recasting the opposition party’s “PDA” slogan in a sarcastic reference to alleged political appropriation.
Speaking to reporters after arriving in Lucknow, Tawde said the BJP would challenge the SP’s PDA campaign and described the acronym as “Paraya Dhan Apna”. He added that the National Democratic Alliance would not allow what he alleged was the SP’s practice of claiming what belonged to others.
The comment comes as political parties start laying the groundwork for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Akhilesh Yadav has used PDA—short for Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak—to frame the SP’s
effort to bring backward classes, Dalits and minorities into a broader electoral coalition.
Tawde begins new Uttar Pradesh role
Tawde was named the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh in-charge in August, replacing the previous arrangement as the party steps up preparations for the next Assembly election. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had congratulated him after the appointment.
His first visit comes at a politically significant moment for the BJP, which regards Uttar Pradesh as central to its national strategy. Tawde is expected to focus on strengthening the organisation rather than making the visit a ceremonial exercise.
He had reportedly asked party workers to avoid putting up extensive hoardings or arranging a large-scale welcome. Uttar Pradesh BJP president Pankaj Chaudhary and other state leaders received him at the airport.
Organisational meetings on the agenda
During his two-day stay, Tawde is scheduled to meet Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Deputy Chief Ministers Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak, senior BJP functionaries and representatives of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.
The discussions are likely to cover the party’s organisational structure, the political climate in Uttar Pradesh and preparations for the 2027 polls. Booth-level mobilisation is expected to be a major focus, given the BJP’s emphasis on strengthening its grassroots network.
Tawde has previously been involved in election management in states such as Bihar. His organisational experience is expected to be used in assessing the BJP’s booth machinery and improving coordination between the party organisation and the state government.
PDA becomes an early political flashpoint
The BJP’s decision to respond directly to the SP’s PDA messaging reflects the importance it attaches to the opposition’s social coalition strategy. Through the slogan, the SP has sought to bring together backward communities, Dalits and minorities while widening its appeal beyond its established support base.
The BJP, for its part, is working to reinforce its own social outreach and organisational network. Tawde’s first public remarks in Lucknow suggest that the party intends to challenge the SP’s narrative early, rather than wait for the formal election campaign.
In the months ahead, Tawde is expected to review booth-level preparedness, caste and community equations, and coordination among the BJP’s state leadership. His opening visit combined internal consultations with a direct attack on the SP, indicating that the contest for 2027 has already entered its preparatory phase.
The larger challenge will be to translate the BJP’s organisational strength and the Yogi Adityanath government’s political standing into a campaign capable of limiting the SP’s appeal among the groups targeted by its PDA strategy.
