UP polls: Congress seeks a bigger slice as SP drives a hard bargain

INDIA bloc’s main alliance partner, Congress, has officially begun seat-sharing talks with the Samajwadi Party for next year’s Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. It has reportedly submitted an initial list of more than “175 seats”. Uttar Pradesh assembly has 403 Assembly seats.

Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam said the party shared the list with Samajwadi Party leaders a couple of days ago, and leaders from both sides will soon hold a detailed discussion on the seat-sharing arrangements. “The leadership of both parties will sit together to thrash out the nitty-gritties of the seat-sharing arrangement,” Gautam added,

Party sources from the Samajwadi Party said they would not accept the Congress’ demand for 175-200 seats, given the party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, where SP made a huge dent in the ruling BJP. Congress won six seats in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, which won 37 seats, to limit BJP to 33.

“SP supremo Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that winnability is the sole criterion for contesting the polls. Anyone can demand anything but in politics, to reach an acceptable and meaningful solution, you have to move beyond posturing,” a senior Samajwadi Party leader commented when sought to know reaction on Congress’ initial proposed list.

Congress contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh polls on its own but won just two seats, far worse than its seven-seat showing in 2017. Gautam, however, maintained that the grand old party is hopeful of a “reasonable” seat-sharing arrangement, saying the two parties will jointly contest next year’s Uttar Pradesh polls.

The recent leadership change in Uttar Pradesh Congress, when former chief Ajay Rai was replaced with Congress MLA Aradhana Misra Mona, is also believed to have been factored in to facilitate an amicable seat-sharing arrangement.

Many believe that Rai was not keen on a pre-poll alliance with the Samajwadi Party, feeling a post-poll arrangement would suit the party more.

The 2027 contest is shaping up primarily between the BJP-led NDA and the SP -led opposition, with the Congress seeking a substantial share of seats in a renewed alliance with the SP. Smaller NDA allies, including the Apna Dal (S) and the Nishad Party, could play supporting roles. The BSP remains a separate factor in Uttar Pradesh, where seat-sharing and caste equations will influence the contest.