Seat-sharing negotiations between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections appear to be getting more complicated. Congress is reportedly seeking significantly more seats than the SP is willing to offer. The party believes its growing influence in national politics should translate into a stronger position in Uttar Pradesh. However, the SP is said to be considering an offer of only a fraction of the seats Congress wants. The disagreement has raised questions about trust and coordination between the two opposition parties.
Congress Targets 10 Seats
One of the main points of disagreement concerns Amethi and Rae Bareli, two districts historically associated with Congress politics. Congress has reportedly staked a claim to all 10 Assembly constituencies across the two districts. The demand is significant because the SP won several of these seats in the previous Assembly elections. Congress has also reportedly sought around a dozen constituencies currently held by SP legislators, bringing the parties into direct competition over seat allocation.
SP Wants to Defeat Its Former Rebels
The SP is reportedly unwilling to give up constituencies represented by legislators who left the party and joined the BJP. The party wants to defeat these former members itself in the next election. This position has become a major obstacle in the seat-sharing discussions, particularly because some of the constituencies are reportedly among those Congress wants to contest. An SP senior leader played down concerns about the alliance, suggesting that the situation might appear more serious from the outside than it actually is.
Manoj Pandey and Rakesh Pratap Singh in Focus
Among the former SP legislators now associated with the BJP are Manoj Pandey, who won from Unchahar in Rae Bareli and is a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, and Rakesh Pratap Singh, who won from Amethi on an SP ticket in the previous election. Reports suggest the SP has conveyed that it does not intend to hand over these constituencies to Congress. The party reportedly wants to challenge the former legislators directly rather than allow its alliance partner to contest those seats.
Previous Election Results Matter
In Amethi, the SP won three Assembly seats in the previous election, while the BJP secured two. In Rae Bareli, the SP won four of the five constituencies, with the BJP taking the remaining seat. These results strengthen the SP’s argument for retaining its position in both districts. Congress, meanwhile, is seeking a larger role in areas traditionally associated with its political influence.
November 1 Rally Could Strengthen Congress’s Position
Congress is preparing for an INDIA bloc rally scheduled for November 1 at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan. Leaders from alliance parties are expected to participate, and the event could serve as a show of opposition unity against the BJP. Congress may also use the rally to demonstrate its political strength and increase pressure on the SP during seat-sharing negotiations. Whether the two parties can resolve their differences will be important for their preparations for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections.
