Political Parties Contesting UP Election 2027

The Bharatiya Janata Party has governed Uttar Pradesh since 2017, and is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term in 2027 under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Nationally in power since 2014 under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party's UP unit campaigns on Hindutva-linked cultural issues, welfare-scheme delivery and a law-and-order record it calls the “Yogi model” of policing.

The party underwent a national organisational change in January 2026 when Nitin Nabin, a 45-year-old Bihar leader, became BJP national president, succeeding J.P. Nadda. In Uttar Pradesh, the BJP contests as the lead partner of the NDA, alongside the Rashtriya Lok Dal, Apna Dal (Sonelal), the Nishad Party and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party.

Founded by Mulayam Singh Yadav and now led by his son Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party is UP's principal opposition force and the main challenger to the BJP. Its base has traditionally rested on Yadav and Muslim voters, and Akhilesh has worked since 2017 to widen that coalition under the banner of PDA — Pichhda (Backward Classes), Dalit and Alpsankhyak (Minority).

The SP contested the 2022 Assembly election in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal and smaller parties, and the 2024 Lok Sabha election alongside the Congress as part of the national INDIA bloc. It is negotiating a fresh seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress for 2027, and speculation continues about a possible understanding with the Azad Samaj Party in western UP.

Founded by Kanshi Ram as a vehicle for Bahujan (Dalit, OBC and minority) political assertion, the BSP under Mayawati has formed the UP government four times, most recently with a full majority built on a Dalit-Brahmin “Sarvjan” coalition. Its seat count has fallen sharply since — to 80 in 2012, 19 in 2017 and just 1 in 2022 — even as its vote share has stayed in double digits.

Mayawati has repeatedly and firmly ruled out any pre-poll alliance for 2027, saying the party will contest independently and is working to rebuild support among Brahmin and other upper-caste voters alongside its core Dalit base.

Once the dominant force in Uttar Pradesh politics, the Congress has not formed a government in the state since 1989 and won just 2 of 403 seats in 2022. Ahead of 2027, the party is attempting a structured, booth-level organisational rebuild, with district and block-level appointments and outreach to farmers, Dalits, OBCs, minorities, students, professionals and Brahmin voters.

Rahul Gandhi's team is now largely driving the party's 2027 UP strategy, while Priyanka Gandhi Vadra remains active on the ground in a state that includes the family's traditional Amethi and Rae Bareli bastions. The party is negotiating a seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party as part of the national INDIA bloc.

Founded by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad and named for BSP founder Kanshi Ram, the Azad Samaj Party made its breakthrough in 2024 by winning the Nagina Lok Sabha seat — contesting entirely on its own — with a margin of roughly 1.51 lakh votes. The party draws support across Dalit, Muslim and, in parts of western UP, Jat communities.

Azad has ruled out any alliance with the BJP and historically kept the INDIA bloc at arm's length, describing his positioning as a “Janta Alliance.” Relations with the Samajwadi Party have visibly warmed through 2026, fuelling speculation of an understanding for 2027, even as the party maintains a more openly competitive relationship with the BSP for the same Dalit vote base. In July 2026 it released a list of 45 constituency in-charges as it builds out an Assembly-level organisation for the first time.