Bindal’s 3rd innings: BJP’s strategic bet to reclaim state in 2027
Dr Rajeev Bindal’s appointment as Himachal Pradesh BJP president for a third consecutive term is more than a personal milestone. It seems to be a calculated strategic move crafted by the BJP high command, endorsed by the RSS and backed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and party national president JP Nadda.
The decision reflects a clear objective: To recapture power in the 2027 Assembly elections. Dr Bindal is preparing to script a fresh narrative for the Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh—one that leans heavily on the enduring appeal of the PM. Bindal remains firmly convinced that Modi enjoys a deep personal connect with the people of the hill state, a sentiment that has often been echoed in public gatherings and electoral outcomes. He credits the party’s earlier electoral victories in the region to the Prime Minister’s unwavering leadership and mass appeal.
Interestingly, while Modi’s emotional pitch in 2022—calling himself the ‘son of Himachal’— failed to convert into electoral gains during that Assembly contest, the tide turned decisively in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP swept all four parliamentary seats, reaffirming that the Modi factor still resonates powerfully among the electorate. Bindal believes this resurgence provides the perfect springboard to dislodge the Congress from power in the next round of assembly polls.
As preparations are poised to begin in earnest soon from booth level, Bindal has planned to approach the BJP high command to seek blessings and approval for the state-specific blueprint. The proposed campaign strategy will centre on a three-pronged thrust: showcasing the Modi government’s achievements over the past decade, highlighting the glaring governance lapses under the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government and exposing the non-fulfillment of the grand promises made by the Congress during the last assembly polls.
Challenges before Bindal
Political observers highlight three major challenges that await Bindal. First, the Congress party’s accusation that the Centre responded inadequately to the devastating natural disasters of 2023 and the current year, which caused extensive loss of life and property worth thousands of crores. The Congress continues to use this narrative to question the BJP’s commitment to the state’s welfare.
The recent cloudbursts and landslides offer Bindal an additional opportunity to push for Central aid and project himself as a decisive, people-focused leader. A timely response can contrast sharply with what the BJP portrays as the Congress government’s administrative inertia.
Second, a more internal challenge involves managing the uneasy dynamics between traditional BJP workers and the loyalists of Congress defectors who joined during the Rajya Sabha drama. In several constituencies, grassroots cadres feel alienated and accuse the leadership of side-lining old loyalists. Bindal will have to walk a tightrope—restoring unity without diluting the party’s ideological identity.
Interestingly, Bindal sees the defectors as an asset. He believes the Congress will struggle to retain those seats in the Assembly polls and differ significantly from the dynamics of the by polls which are usually won by the ruling party and it was witnessed in Himachal also.
Third, notwithstanding his denial, Bindal inherits a party plagued by infighting, especially in Kangra and Hamirpur. Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who reportedly tried to push for his own candidate, leads a faction still nursing grievances. While the Dhumal-Anurag Thakur camp is expected to back Bindal, this arithmetic may not be enough to neutralise dissent from Jai Ram loyalists. Kangra, Himachal’s most politically influential district, will be his first big test in asserting control and restoring unity. To project the BJP as a unified force, Nadda had personally met former chief ministers, Shanta Kumar and Prof Prem Kumar Dhumal along with Dr Bindal to seek their blessings for the new incumbent who enjoys their confidence.
BJP’s opportunity
BJP lambasts the Sukhu government for its failure to deliver on several high-profile promises — particularly the Rs 1,500 monthly assistance promised to women. Bindal is gearing up to convert this shortfall into political capital by launching a campaign that targets these lapses and presents the BJP as the more reliable alternative.
Balancing caste and region
Though caste politics in Himachal is not as prominent as in states like Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, achieving social and regional balance remains crucial. Bindal will have to ensure fair representation for Brahmins, Rajputs, SCs and OBCs in the party structure, along with proportional inclusion from Upper Shimla, Lower Himachal and the tribal belts.
Any perceived tilt in appointments could trigger dissatisfaction and alienate important vote banks. This phase will test Bindal’s political instincts and his ability to manage intra-party expectations.
A Delhi-backed mandate
Bindal’s appointment carries the unmistakable endorsement of the central leadership. JP Nadda is believed to have played a critical role in securing his elevation. This backing gives Bindal legitimacy and a buffer—at least temporarily—from internal factional pressures. His past administrative record and ideological alignment with the central leadership make him a trusted executor of the BJP’s national and state-level vision.
Turning point for state BJP
What lies ahead for him is a politically fraught landscape, where factional fires, fragile cadre morale and public disillusionment with the Sukhu government must all be deftly navigated.
As the state enters a politically fluid phase, Bindal takes charge at a critical juncture. The Congress government is battling public discontent and the BJP is regrouping after setbacks in by polls. Bindal’s ability to restore unity, energise the cadre and rebuild public trust will determine whether the BJP reclaims its dominance—or cedes more ground in the lead-up to 2027.
(The writer is a senior political analyst based in Shimla)
Himachal Tribune