With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, seat-sharing negotiations between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) could become a major challenge for the opposition alliance. According to reports, Congress has submitted a list of around 200 constituencies where it wants to contest, effectively staking a claim to nearly half of the state’s 403 Assembly seats. However, the SP is reportedly preparing to contest a much larger share of the seats under its own election symbol.

Congress Leadership Submits List to SP
According to sources, the list was confidentially conveyed to SP president Akhilesh Yadav through the Congress leadership, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge reportedly involved in the process. Congress has prioritised constituencies where it has sitting MPs and other areas where it believes its political position and organisational presence could support its claim. The list is said to have been prepared after consultations with senior leaders and feedback from state-level party representatives.

Seat-Sharing Discussions Held in Delhi
Senior leaders from both parties reportedly held discussions in Delhi to review possible seat-sharing arrangements. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was also present, according to the report. Feedback was collected on individual constituencies before the list of approximately 200 seats was prepared and sent to the SP. However, the two parties appear to have different expectations regarding the final allocation.

Congress Wants More Seats, SP Prefers a Smaller Share
According to sources, Congress is seeking between 125 and 130 seats to contest, while the SP is reportedly willing to offer around 40 to 50 seats. The SP leadership is said to be citing Congress’s performance in the previous Assembly election as a reason for limiting its share. The disagreement could make negotiations more complicated as both parties attempt to protect their respective political interests ahead of the polls.

SP Plans to Contest Most Seats on Its Own Symbol
The Samajwadi Party is reportedly considering fielding candidates on its own symbol in 340 to 350 of Uttar Pradesh’s 403 Assembly constituencies. In the previous Assembly election, the party contested 347 seats, leaving the remaining constituencies to its allies. SP leaders believe contesting more seats under the party symbol could help maintain its electoral performance.

Sources also say the SP has asked Congress to provide the names of potential candidates for the constituencies it has claimed. This would help the party assess Congress’s strength in those areas and compare it with the SP’s own options. For now, the SP is reportedly holding back announcements of its official candidates in constituencies claimed by Congress until seat-sharing negotiations are completed. The final arrangement between the two parties remains uncertain.