Politics

UP Polls 2027: Yogi, Akhilesh Among 52 Leaders Given Bulletproof Jackets Ahead of Election

Uttar Pradesh has upgraded security for dozens of political leaders ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with sources saying Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are among those receiving bulletproof jackets.

Published

1 day ago

August 22, 2026

Asad Khan

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati are among the leaders receiving upgraded security ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

Lucknow: Security arrangements are being strengthened across Uttar Pradesh as political activity gathers pace before the 2027 Assembly elections.

According to sources, 52 political leaders have been issued bulletproof jackets as part of an enhanced security plan. The list includes Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati.

Several members of the state cabinet are also among the recipients, including Sanjay Nishad, Nand Gopal Gupta “Nandi,” Om Prakash Rajbhar and Aparna Yadav.

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Security Upgrade Rolled Out in Two Phases

Sources said the protective gear costs around ₹10 lakh per jacket.

The distribution was carried out in two phases. Eight leaders received the jackets in the first phase, followed by 44 more in the second phase.

Apart from the jackets, security cover has reportedly been strengthened for several other BJP leaders, including Swatantra Dev Singh, Jaiveer Singh and Mahendra Singh.

In total, 98 leaders and other prominent individuals in the state are expected to receive different categories of security protection.

BJP Sharpens 2027 Election Strategy

The security measures come as the Bharatiya Janata Party intensifies preparations for the 2027 contest.

The party has appointed Vinod Tawde as its Uttar Pradesh election in-charge, with Jagdish Ishwarbhai Patel serving as co-in-charge.

According to sources, the BJP is working to strengthen its social and caste outreach, with greater organisational representation for Other Backward Classes (OBC) and minority communities.

The party has also begun constituency-level surveys to assess organisational strength, identify potential candidates and understand local issues that could shape the election campaign.

Why It Matters

The simultaneous expansion of security arrangements and election planning reflects the increasingly high-profile political environment in Uttar Pradesh, where the 2027 Assembly election is expected to be one of the country’s biggest electoral contests.