After much dilly-dallying, the Congress has officially begun seat-sharing talks with the Samajwadi Party for next year’s Uttar Pradesh elections and submitted an initial list of more than 175 seats where it feels it can make an impression in an alliance.
In the meantime, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Friday said the collective goal is to remove the BJP from power, and the alliance will move forward effectively. Anyone can demand anything but in politics, to reach an acceptable and meaningful solution, you have to move beyond posturing. However, Mona’s excellent relations with the Samajwadi Party leadership may have been a factor for the party opting for her months ahead of the polls, some Congress leaders feel.
However, not many within the Samajwadi Party are convinced of the Congress’ political heft to demand 175-200 seats, the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results notwithstanding, sources said.
Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam told PTI that the list was shared with Samajwadi Party leaders a couple of days ago; the leaders of the two parties will soon discuss the seat-sharing arrangements in detail. “I can’t give you the exact numbers, but we have submitted a list for 175 to 200 seats,” Gautam told PTI, hinting that the party is open to negotiations ahead of polls to the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly. A senior Samajwadi Party leader said, “I think our leader Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that winnability is the sole criterion (for contesting the polls).
