Lucknow: Ahead of Uttar Pradesh's Legislative Council elections on October 23 and with an eye on the 2027 assembly poll, the ruling BJP has opened a channel to Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik) chief Raghuraj Pratap Singh — Raja Bhaiya — the seven-term MLA from Kunda in Pratapgarh district.
BJP Uttar Pradesh president Pankaj Chaudhary, along with MLC Govind Narayan Shukla, met Raja Bhaiya at his residence. The party described it as a "sadbhavna" (courtesy) visit, but the timing is telling: biennial elections for 11 Legislative Council seats — five graduates' and six teachers' constituencies — fall on October 23.
Raja Bhaiya's outfit has two MLAs, the same as the Congress. In the past he has supported BJP candidates in council elections, and has sometimes backed the Samajwadi Party. His influence in parts of central and eastern Uttar Pradesh gives his support weight in close contests.
The BJP's immediate concern is closer to home: its MLC Devendra Pratap Singh, elected several times from the Gorakhpur-Faizabad graduates' constituency, has shown signs of discontent. Party leaders concede the contest could be difficult on several seats.
The outreach to Raja Bhaiya, then, is less about optics than arithmetic — keeping the ruling party's council calculations intact as it prepares for a bigger fight next year. There was no immediate comment from Raja Bhaiya on the meeting.
Graduates' and teachers' constituencies decide these council elections, and the BJP has already named candidates on several seats. Party circles say the groundwork for stitching together allies and independents for the 2027 assembly election has begun.