From deserted hills to ballot power: BJP launches campaign to turn Uttarakhand’s ghost villages into voting strength

Dehradun: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a special campaign in Uttarakhand ahead of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

The party is focusing on empty villages and migrants, hoping this strategy will help both development and political success in the 2027 elections.

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Haunted Villages and Migration

Migration has been a serious issue in Uttarakhand for many years. According to the Migration Commission, more than 1,700 villages have been deserted, and lakhs of people have settled in other states or moved to cities like Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haldwani, and Haridwar. These empty villages are not only a social concern but also a strategic challenge for the state.

BJP leaders believe that if people who migrated return to vote in their native villages, it will strengthen the population base and bring more development funds to those areas. The party is calling this campaign a way to revive the mountains and ensure representation for deserted villages.

BJP’s Strategy

BJP spokesperson Mathuradas Joshi explained that the party will collect detailed information about migrants, including their phone numbers and current addresses. Booth-level workers in every tehsil will prepare lists of villages that have become vacant. They will then reach out to people who left and personally appeal to them to register their votes in their ancestral villages.

The BJP believes this formula will not only benefit the villages but also contribute significantly to its victory in 2027. By increasing voter participation in the mountains, the party hopes to change the face of assembly and Lok Sabha seats in the region.

Guidelines from State Leadership

BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt has formally issued guidelines after a meeting with party officials. He instructed booth-level workers to collect information about migration in their areas. The campaign will cover not just deserted villages but also families who moved to nearby towns or other states.

The party will explain to migrants how their one vote can bring change to their native villages. BJP leaders will highlight that development money from the central government can be better used if people vote in their ancestral constituencies.

Political and Social Impact

This campaign is seen as a major political move before the SIR process. The BJP hopes to turn migration, which has long been a challenge, into an opportunity. By reconnecting with migrants, the party aims to strengthen its voter base and also address the issue of empty villages.

The campaign is also expected to spark debate among other political parties, as migration has been a sensitive issue in Uttarakhand. While governments have tried to stop migration by improving jobs, education, and healthcare in the hills, the problem continues. BJP’s new plan is being projected as a way to link development with electoral success.