India, Dec. 19 -- Uttar Pradesh was one of the strongest states for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in recent years. But the party took a serious hit in the state in the 2024 general elections. The results had two painful dimensions for the BJP. One, the loss of seats here deprived it of a clear majority in Parliament. Two, the gauntlet was thrown down by a regional force that the party had twice defeated in assembly polls - in 2017 and 2022.

The 2027 assembly polls now give the BJP an opportunity to avenge its defeat. It has to crack another tough state - West Bengal - between now and then, but the blueprint for UP must have already been finalised. The BJP will likely draw from its recent experience in Bihar, where the party and its al...