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Preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2027 are still in the initial stages, but the political turmoil regarding seat sharing within the INDIA alliance seems to be intensifying. Samajwadi Party and Congress, which together gave a tough challenge to the Bharatiya Janata Party in the Lok Sabha elections, are now claiming their political existence and strength before the Assembly elections.

Congress leaders are talking about equal respect and share of 125 to 150 seats in the alliance, while Samajwadi Party leaders are reminding Congress of its limitations by citing the ground reality of the state, organization and past election performance.

The continuous rhetoric of the leaders of both the parties has intensified the discussion whether this competition to become ‘elder brother’ before the assembly elections might overshadow the unity of the INDIA alliance. Political experts believe that if the top leadership does not formulate a clear strategy on this issue in time, then the growing dispute over seat sharing can become a challenge for the opposition alliance.

Congress said- will not become younger brother now

Congress’s confidence has increased after the alliance with Samajwadi Party in the Lok Sabha elections. Senior Congress leader Imran Masood has clearly said that Congress will no longer contest elections as a ‘younger brother’. At the same time, State President Rajendra Gautam, in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Congress, has also said many times that the party should get a respectable share according to its strength and support base.

Many party leaders believe that Congress is a contender to contest elections on 125 to 150 seats. Congress argues that the success in the Lok Sabha elections was not just a single party but a joint victory of the alliance. Therefore, distribution of seats in the assembly elections should also be done in a respectable manner.

Samajwadi Party showed the mirror of 2022 to Congress

Samajwadi Party leaders have also openly reacted to the growing claims of Congress. National General Secretary of Samajwadi Party Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav says that the distribution of seats will be on the basis of political strength and ability to win, and not on the basis of claims. Samajwadi Party’s chief national spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary has also said many times that Samajwadi Party is the biggest opposition force in Uttar Pradesh and the seats in the alliance will be decided on that basis.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Manoj Kaka reminded the Congress that in the 2022 assembly elections, the party could win only two seats by contesting alone. He says that Congress cannot make the performance of Lok Sabha elections the yardstick of the Assembly elections.

Congress’s confidence increased due to the success of Lok Sabha

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the alliance of Samajwadi Party and Congress performed better in Uttar Pradesh. After this, the Congress organization now wants a bigger stake in the assembly elections also. At the same time, Samajwadi Party says that its organization, booth network and mass base in the state is much stronger than that of Congress, hence the distribution of seats should also be based on the same political reality.

Political tension is increasing due to statements

The rhetoric between the leaders of both the parties regarding seats is continuously intensifying. While the Congress is talking about respectable participation and equality, the Samajwadi Party is talking about the ability to win and past election records.

In such a situation, it is not considered easy to decide the seat formula between the two parties. Political analysts believe that if public statements continue like this, then distrust between the two parties may increase even before formal talks begin, which may also affect the strength of the alliance.

Bharatiya Janata Party also has its eyes set on

The Bharatiya Janata Party is also keeping an eye on the increasing rhetoric within the opposition alliance. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders claim that it will not be easy to reach a consensus on seats in the INDIA alliance and this tussle may increase as the assembly elections approach. In such a situation, the Bharatiya Janata Party may try to present this issue as a weakness of the opposition.

The biggest test before 2027

In the politics of Uttar Pradesh, it is considered strategically important for both Samajwadi Party and Congress to come together to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party. The way the leaders of both the parties are claiming their political strength from public platforms, it is clear that the distribution of seats before the assembly elections and the fight to become the elder brother is going to be the biggest political test of the INDIA alliance. Now everyone’s eyes are on the top leadership of both the parties to see how they control this rhetoric and find a way to agree on the seats.