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Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, is expected to play a more active role in the BJP’s election campaign in Uttar Pradesh, as the party attempts to reclaim the narrative following a string of resignations of OBC leaders and incumbent MLAs.

Beginning this weekend, Shah will be more visible on the ground, with the party anticipating that this will help the campaign gain traction and increase cadre morale.

Starting this weekend, Shah will be more visible on the ground, with the party hoping it will give the campaign momentum as well as boost the morale of the cadre. He is expected to tour the entire state starting January 22, the day the Election Commission will take a call next on whether to continue the ban on public rallies and yatras on account of Covid.

He will supervise rallies, as well as campaign and ticket distribution across all the six organizational regions the party has divided UP into — Braj, Kashi, Awadh, Gorakhpur, West UP, and Kanpur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party’s top campaigner, will also hold multiple rallies in all the regions if these are allowed.

Party leaders claimed they remain hopeful of winning 270-290 seats out of the 403 in UP, way more than the needed majority, and Shah’s involvement would take the party past the 300 mark (the BJP had won 325 in 2017). The BJP president at the time of the last elections, Shah was considered the architect of that win, setting the stage for the party’s dominance across the Hindi heartland. Given his familiarity with the state and its issues, including its caste chessboard, Shah is expected to provide the push where it is needed.

Although the BJP argues their leaving would not make much difference as they came from other parties, and that the BJP has stronger leaders from the same communities, it admits it might take a hit in certain pockets. “These leaders can take away their support base with them. So we need to be careful with tickets in eastern UP,” said a leader, adding that it is here that Shah’s “deep understanding about UP and “his ability to get leaders to fall in line” would help.

Before the Election Commission banned rallies and yatras due to Covid, Shah had addressed a series of Jan Vishwas Yatras across UP. He has also been a part of all meetings held by the party to finalize strategy as well as candidates.