Dehradun, Nov 2026 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah has set an ambitious target of winning at least 65 of Uttarakhand's 70 Assembly seats in next year's elections, urging BJP workers to strengthen their grassroots presence and reach every household to secure a third consecutive victory in the state.
Addressing an event marking Uttarakhand's 26th Foundation Day on Friday, Shah described the state as an important milestone in India's journey towards becoming a developed nation. He called upon party workers to work collectively towards the target of crossing 65 seats, recalling that the BJP had won 57 seats in the 2017 Assembly elections and 47 in 2022.
Shah said the party needed to expand its outreach and ensure that the concerns of people across the state were addressed. He asserted that the BJP was committed to making Uttarakhand a secure and prosperous state and transforming Devbhoomi into the country's cultural capital.
During the event, the Home Minister inaugurated projects and laid foundation stones for 62 development works involving a total investment of Rs 1,475.31 crore.
Taking aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 'Vote Bachao' campaign, Shah described it as a 'Ghuspathiya Bachao' rally. He called for the removal of alleged infiltrators from electoral rolls as well as from the country, making the issue of illegal immigration a key part of his political attack on the Congress.
Shah also criticised the opposition party over its stand on educational institutions, claiming that Congress leaders advocate the establishment of a Muslim university whenever the party comes to power.
Addressing Gandhi directly, the Home Minister said attempts to gain political mileage through visits to Uttarakhand would not succeed, claiming that BJP workers remained engaged in addressing people's concerns throughout the state.
Highlighting the state's economic progress, Shah claimed that tourism in Uttarakhand had recorded growth of 380 per cent. He said the government was working to move the state away from its traditional 'money-order economy' towards an industrial economy by attracting investment and creating employment opportunities.
On national security, Shah referred to the 2016 surgical strikes, the 2019 Balakot airstrikes and Operation Sindoor in 2025, saying the Narendra Modi government had strengthened border security and demonstrated India's willingness to respond to threats.
He also highlighted development initiatives in border areas under the Vibrant Villages Programme. According to Shah, projects worth Rs 270 crore were being undertaken in 51 border villages, with the objective of improving infrastructure and preventing migration from remote regions.
Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami criticised the Congress over its allegations concerning electronic voting machines and the electoral process. He said certain political leaders questioned the credibility of elections only after suffering defeats and asserted that people in Uttarakhand would not be misled by the Opposition's claims.
Dhami also accused the Congress of insulting National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, who belongs to Uttarakhand. His remarks referred to Rahul Gandhi's comments ahead of the INDIA bloc's protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, during which Gandhi had described Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, Kumar and Doval as 'villains of this story'.
The Chief Minister further questioned the Congress over its silence on remarks allegedly made by Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, an INDIA bloc ally, about the people of Uttarakhand.
Highlighting his government's employment and examination record, Dhami claimed that more than 100 members of the examination-cheating mafia had been arrested and sent to jail, while over 35,000 young people had secured government jobs. He maintained that recruitment examinations had been conducted without cheating or corruption.
With the Assembly elections approaching, Shah's target of 65 seats and his appeal for stronger booth-level and household outreach signal the BJP's early focus on retaining power in Uttarakhand.
