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The Uttar Pradesh government has provided bulletproof jackets to 52 leaders, including Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati, as part of changes to the state's security arrangements ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.

The security headquarters purchased the jackets at a cost of around Rs 1.5 lakh per jacket, according to sources.

11 Ministers Among Those Given Jackets

As many as 11 ministers of the Uttar Pradesh government are among those who have received the bulletproof jackets.

The list includes Sanjay Nishad, Nand Gopal Gupta Nandi, Om Prakash Rajbhar and Aparna Yadav.

Swatantra Dev Singh, Jaiveer Singh and Mahendra Singh are also among the leaders provided the security equipment.

Jackets Provided In Two Phases

The bulletproof jackets were provided in two phases. Eight leaders received them in the first phase, while 44 leaders were covered in the second phase.

The move comes ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections as the state reviews security arrangements for political leaders and other important persons.

According to sources, 98 leaders and important persons in Uttar Pradesh have been placed under different categories of security.

Uttar Pradesh is gearing up for a high-stakes Assembly election, with polls expected in early 2027 for all 403 seats. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP is preparing for a major electoral battle against the Samajwadi Party, with caste equations, development, law and order, jobs and youth issues likely to dominate the campaign.

Jobs, education and exam-related issues also seem to be emerging as important concerns among younger voters, including Gen-Z.