NEW DELHI: The Congress has formally begun seat-sharing negotiations with the Samajwadi Party (SP) in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, submitting an initial list of more than 175 assembly constituencies to the Akhilesh Yadav-led party.Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Congress’ in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, told PTI that the list was shared with SP leaders around two days ago. He added that leaders from both parties would soon hold detailed discussions on the nature of a seat-sharing arrangement.“I can’t give you the exact numbers, but we have submitted a list for 175 to 200 seats. The leadership of both parties will sit together to thrash out the nitty-gritties of the seat-sharing arrangement,” Gautam said.The Congress has reportedly classified constituencies based on an assessment of its electoral prospects, and seat-sharing negotiations are expected to centre on this assessment.
Scepticism within SP over Congress’ seat demands
However, several SP leaders remain unconvinced that the Congress has enough political clout to demand 175-200 seats, despite their successful alliance in Uttar Pradesh during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.The scepticism stems from the Congress’ declining electoral fortunes in Uttar Pradesh since 1989, when it last held power in the country’s most populous state.“I think our party leader 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 SP leader told PTI.The Congress contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections independently but managed to win just two constituencies, down from seven in 2017, when it fought in alliance with the SP. That year, the SP lost power after a single term, securing only 47 seats, while the BJP won a landslide 312 seats in the 403-member ssembly.In 2022, the BJP retained power with 255 seats, while the SP won 111 constituencies.However, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections offered the Congress renewed hope. The grand old party won six seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the SP secured 37 of the state’s 80 seats, limiting the BJP to 33, down from 62 in 2019 and 71 in 2014. The results have strengthened the Congress’ expectations of securing a “respectable share” of seats in the 2027 assembly elections, party leaders acknowledged.“It’s obvious… The 2024 Lok Sabha results were proof that together the two parties can make an impact. In politics, there has to be room for meaningful give and take,” a senior Congress leader said.
How the change in UP Congress leadership could influence seat-sharing talks
The recent leadership change in the Uttar Pradesh Congress, with Aradhana Misra “Mona” succeeding Ajay Rai as state unit chief, is also believed to have been factored into the party’s efforts to reach an amicable seat-sharing arrangement with the SP.Some believe Rai was not in favour of a pre-poll alliance, viewing a post-poll arrangement as a more suitable option for the Congress.However, some party leaders feel that Misra’s “excellent relations” with the SP leadership may have influenced the party’s decision to appoint her months ahead of the assembly elections, potentially facilitating negotiations between themThe Uttar Pradesh assembly elections are scheduled to be held in February-March next year.