Amit Shah Sets 65-Seat Target for BJP in Uttarakhand, Calls for Third Consecutive Term

Amit Shah Announces BJP's 65-Plus Seat Target

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set an ambitious electoral target for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand, calling on party workers to win more than 65 of the state's 70 Assembly seats in the upcoming 2027 elections.

Addressing a public rally in Dehradun on Friday, November 6, on the occasion of Uttarakhand's 26th Foundation Day, Shah urged party workers to work towards a third consecutive BJP government in the hill state.

Calling for a political hat-trick, he asked workers to strengthen their organisational presence and conduct door-to-door outreach across the state.

BJP's Previous Election Performance

Referring to the BJP's electoral performance in the previous Assembly elections, Shah highlighted that the party had won 57 seats in 2017 and 47 seats in 2022.

The party returned to power in 2022 despite securing fewer seats than in the previous election. Shah challenged party workers to improve that performance and cross the 65-seat mark in 2027.

Uttarakhand has 70 Assembly constituencies, making the target more than 90 per cent of the total seats.

Shah Targets Congress and Rahul Gandhi

During his address, Shah launched a sharp attack on the Congress and its senior leader Rahul Gandhi.

He criticised Gandhi's 'Vote Bachao Yatra', describing it as a campaign aimed at protecting infiltrators rather than safeguarding voters. Shah called for the identification and removal of alleged infiltrators from electoral rolls and the country.

He also accused Congress of supporting policies that, according to him, could affect Uttarakhand's demographic and cultural character.

These remarks formed a major part of the BJP leader's political attack on the opposition ahead of the next Assembly election.

Encroachment Issue Becomes a Political Flashpoint

Shah also raised the issue of alleged encroachments on government land in Uttarakhand.

He said the BJP government was taking action to remove illegal structures, including shrines and madrasas, from government land. Referring to a land dispute in Haldwani, he claimed that Rahul Gandhi had objected to action involving 29 acres of land.

Shah contrasted the BJP's approach with what he described as Congress's position on the issue, including the party's alleged support for a Muslim university.

These statements reflected the political differences between the two parties over land, governance and identity-related issues.

Development and Employment in Uttarakhand

Shah also spoke about the BJP government's development agenda, describing Uttarakhand as a state with the potential to become more secure and prosperous.

He highlighted the government's focus on infrastructure, tourism, industrial development and efforts to reduce migration from hill villages.

He claimed that tourism in the state had grown by 380 per cent and said the government was working to shift Uttarakhand from a traditional 'money-order economy' towards an industrial economy.

He also referred to development projects worth Rs 1,475.31 crore, which were inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid during the Foundation Day programme.

Pushkar Singh Dhami Highlights Government's Record

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also addressed the gathering before Shah.

Dhami criticised the Congress over its remarks on the electoral process and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). He said the opposition questioned the system after losing elections.

The Chief Minister also highlighted his government's claims regarding employment generation, action against examination-related malpractice and development initiatives.

He said more than 35,000 young people had received government jobs and claimed that over 100 members of examination-cheating networks had been sent to jail.

BJP Begins Preparations for 2027 Assembly Elections

Shah's 65-plus target signals the BJP's early campaign preparations for the 2027 Uttarakhand Assembly elections. His appeal for door-to-door campaigning suggests that the party intends to focus on strengthening its grassroots organisation well before polling.

The BJP will seek to retain power for a third consecutive term, while the Congress and other opposition parties will look to challenge its position.

With the next Assembly election approaching, political discussions are expected to increasingly focus on development, employment, migration, land issues and the performance of the state government.

Editorial Note: The 65-plus figure is the BJP's electoral target, not a prediction or confirmed result. Claims about tourism growth, employment, encroachments and opposition positions have been attributed to the leaders who made them. Official data and the full context of these claims should be checked independently.