After much dilly-dallying, the Congress has officially begun seat-sharing talks with the Samajwadi Party for next year’s Uttar Pradesh elections and submitted an initial list of more than 175 seats where it feels it can make an impression in an alliance.
Not many within the Samajwadi Party are convinced of the Congress’ political heft to demand 175-200 seats, the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results notwithstanding, sources said.
In the meantime, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the collective goal is to remove the BJP from power, and the alliance will move forward effectively. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Friday, he said, “The Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the INDIA bloc must be strengthened. Anyone can demand anything but in politics, to reach an acceptable and meaningful solution, you have to move beyond posturing. Our collective goal is to see that the BJP is removed. To ensure the ouster of the BJP, we will make people understand, and we will do so. The alliance will move forward effectively to defeat the BJP.
However, not many within the Samajwadi Party are convinced of the Congress’ political heft to demand 175-200 seats, the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results notwithstanding, sources said.
Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam told PTI that the list was shared with Samajwadi Party leaders a couple of days ago; the leaders of the two parties will soon discuss the seat-sharing arrangements in detail. A senior Samajwadi Party leader said, “I think our leader Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that winnability is the sole criterion (for contesting the polls). Taking a leaf out of the BJP’s book, the Congress has categorised seats based on its assessment of the party’s position, and the seat-sharing talks will focus on this aspect, sources said.
