Smaller UP parties turn to Congress, eye seats from its share in SP-led alliance
The Congress is drawing interest from smaller Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections as it presses the Samajwadi Party for a larger share of seats.
Parties previously aligned with the SP are reaching out to the Congress, hoping it can accommodate them if it secures a substantial seat allocation.
Apni Janta Party's Swami Prasad Maurya, Sanjay Chauhan, who heads a party representing the OBC Chauhan community, and Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) leader Pankaj Niranjan have met Rahul Gandhi in the last few days.
The meetings come as Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam sought “equal respect and an equal share” in seat-sharing with the SP.
“Who asked for 150 seats? I had actually spoken about 200,” Gautam told ANI on Sunday.SMALLER PARTIES LOOK TO CONGRESS
With Akhilesh Yadav keeping his distance from these parties, the Congress is seeking to bring leaders from different caste groups and those with local influence into its fold.
Several parties associated with the Bhagidari Morcha, formed before the 2022 Assembly elections, are looking to align with the Congress. Chauhan and Niranjan were associated with the front, and Niranjan was among its founders.
The strategy resembles the BJP’s approach ahead of the 2017 Assembly elections, when Amit Shah enlisted smaller parties and caste leaders to widen its support base.
Akhilesh has asked the Congress to field candidates capable of winning. The party is reaching out to locally influential leaders who could contest on its ticket.
Maurya has sought around a dozen seats and wants to contest on his own party’s symbol. The Congress, however, has insisted that he contest on its symbol.CONGRESS SEEKS EARLY SEAT-SHARING DEAL
Gautam said the Congress is preparing across all 403 Assembly constituencies and wants seat-sharing settled in October to give candidates time to prepare.
“We can only win if we get seats. We can only win if we contest the election,” he said.
He said work on the grassroots organisation is nearly complete, with district and city units likely to be finalised by Thursday, followed by the state-level body.
Despite seeking an equal share, Gautam said the Congress remains flexible.
“If we have to bend a little, we will bend,” he said, adding that both parties have a responsibility to take the alliance forward.- Ends
