BJP president Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Punjab later this month
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The BJP’s completion of 12 years in power has not dimmed its appetite for expanding into new political territory, with the ruling party preparing a fresh electoral strategy for a series of crucial State elections next year.Top party sources said Punjab has emerged as a key focus area, with the BJP planning to contest the Assembly elections on its own. At the same time, the party is working to secure the numbers required to reintroduce the delimitation Bill, a move that could strengthen its prospects in Uttar Pradesh, which is also due for elections next year.Renewed push“We can bring in the Bill even when Parliament is not in session if we get the numbers,” asserted a top party leader.The renewed push has been aided by the prospect of a split in the Trinamool Congress, with as many as 20 MPs reportedly planning to break away and form a separate group that would support the NDA. There are also indications of similar splits in two other parties.In Punjab, BJP sources said there are no plans either to forge a new alliance or revive ties with the Shiromani Akali Dal. Instead, the party is seeking to replicate its Haryana strategy by consolidating support among non-Jat communities and building a broader social coalition.As part of this effort, the BJP has intensified outreach to several deras — socio-religious congregations that wield influence across communities — particularly among Dalits. Punjab has the highest proportion of Dalits in the country i.e. roughly 33 per cent. By combining support among Dalit and Hindu communities, the party hopes to challenge the long-standing political dominance of Jat Sikhs in the State.BJP president Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Punjab later this month, with the party expected to focus its campaign on two major issues — the drug menace and law and order.The BJP’s campaign in Uttar Pradesh could receive a significant boost if it succeeds in reviving the delimitation Bill or the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which had been introduced alongside the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam. Both Bills were defeated by a united Opposition in April.Although the BJP remains short of the two-thirds majority required to pass the legislation, even after factoring in support from potential TMC rebels and other splinter groups, the party has continued to reach out aggressively to potential allies, including its staunch opponent DMK, which is smarting from the Congress’ desertion and alignment with the ruling TVK in Tamil Nadu.Published on June 9, 2026
