Congress New UP Chief Demands Equal Seat Share from Samajwadi Party Amid Alliance Talks
The newly appointed Uttar Pradesh in-charge of the Congress party, Rajendra Pal Gautam, has called for an equal seat-sharing arrangement with the Samajwadi Party ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, Gautam also praised Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati and expressed openness to an alliance with her party.
Formal discussions on seat distribution for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly have not yet begun between the two parties. When asked about the number of seats the Congress is seeking, Gautam said, "I would personally like there to be an equal share. The top leadership will decide once discussions take place. I am not authorised to make an announcement beforehand, but we will certainly advocate for an equal share."
The Congress and Samajwadi Party have a history of electoral alliances. In the 2017 assembly elections, the Samajwadi Party contested 298 seats and the Congress 105. However, the alliance collapsed after the Bharatiya Janata Party's landslide victory. The two parties reunited for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections under the INDIA bloc, winning 37 and 6 seats respectively out of 80.
According to party sources, the Congress may demand around 150 seats this time. However, initial signals indicate that the Samajwadi Party is unlikely to offer more than 70-80 seats. Congress leaders argue that since the party contested 105 seats in 2017 when the Samajwadi Party was in power, it deserves a higher number now.
The Congress believes that Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav's chief ministerial ambitions make him reluctant to alienate the Congress. Party sources suggest that if given a significant role, the Congress can facilitate the transfer of Dalit and Brahmin votes to the Samajwadi Party. The current UP Congress president, Ajay Rai, belongs to an upper-caste background.
Gautam also reached out to Mayawati, urging her to join forces against what he called the "oppressive Manuvadi government." He said, "Behanji is a prominent leader of our community, and we respect her. She has been a strong leader. One wonders what constraints she might be facing." Gautam, who shares the same caste background as Mayawati, visited her Lucknow residence last month but could not meet her.
The Congress's overtures to Mayawati come amid the rising political profile of MP Chandrashekhar Azad, also from the same community. Analysts say Gautam's appointment and praise for Mayawati are aimed at securing Dalit votes and countering Azad's influence.
