Akhilesh Yadav Returns to Dadri to Launch 2027 UP Assembly Election Campaign
In a strategic move ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Samajwadi Party (SP) national president Akhilesh Yadav is set to launch the party's poll campaign with a major rally in Dadri, Gautam Buddh Nagar district, on March 29. The event, named Samajwadi Samanta Bhaichara, marks a deliberate return to the location where the SP began its successful 2012 election campaign, aiming to recapture that winning momentum.
Historical Significance and Strategic Planning
The choice of Dadri as the launchpad is deeply symbolic, rooted in the party's 2012 victory. In that election, the SP initiated its campaign from Gautam Buddh Nagar through a cycle rally, which party leaders credit as a pivotal factor in securing a decisive win of 224 out of 403 seats. This triumph propelled Akhilesh Yadav into the Chief Minister's office, reshaping Uttar Pradesh's political landscape. SP leaders view Dadri as an "auspicious sign", believing that starting from this historically significant venue could infuse positive energy and drive political momentum for the upcoming 2027 polls.
According to Raj Kumar Bhati, the party's national spokesperson and rally convenor, preparations have been underway since August. The rally was initially planned for November but was postponed due to the Bihar Assembly elections and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. It will now take place at a college ground in Dadri, with expectations of participation from around 140 Assembly constituencies across the Saharanpur, Meerut, Agra, and Moradabad divisions. The SP anticipates a turnout of nearly 50,000 people, making it one of the largest political gatherings ahead of the formal campaign launch.
Campaign Dynamics and Future Outlook
Rajendra Chaudhary, SP chief spokesperson, emphasized that the 2012 campaign from Gautam Buddh Nagar played a crucial role in building statewide momentum, contributing significantly to the party's electoral success. Following the Dadri rally, the SP plans to organize similar events across other districts to mobilize public support and set the tone for its 2027 strategy. However, party leaders note that the campaign's full intensity will depend on final decisions regarding panchayat elections and candidate announcements.
The SP's recent electoral history adds context to this move. In the 2017 Assembly elections, the party launched its campaign from Lucknow district with a Rath Yatra but suffered a sharp decline, winning only 47 seats as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a massive majority. For the 2022 polls, the SP shifted to Azamgarh, improving its performance to 111 seats and emerging as the principal opposition, though still short of forming the government. Notably, Akhilesh Yadav avoided launching campaigns from Noida in 2017 and 2022 due to a local political belief that visiting Chief Ministers lose power within six months—a superstition that did not prevent electoral setbacks in those years.
This rally in Dadri represents a calculated effort to reconnect with past successes while addressing current challenges, as the SP positions itself as a key contender in Uttar Pradesh's fiercely competitive political arena.
