As the political movement picks up ahead of the UP Assembly elections, discussions over candidates and seat-sharing have started gaining momentum. After the recent INDI bloc meeting in New Delhi, speculation grew that the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress could soon begin formal talks on an alliance for the 2027 Assembly polls. Initial details of the likely formula have now started emerging.
Talks Likely to Begin With District-Wise Assessment
According to SP sources, the first step in seat-sharing discussions will be to identify the districts and Assembly constituencies where Congress wants to contest. The party will also be asked to share the names of its probable candidates.
SP plans to examine each proposed candidate carefully. The party will assess whether the candidate has a realistic chance of winning and whether he or she fits the caste and social equations of the constituency. The main focus will remain on selecting a candidate who can pose a strong challenge to the BJP.
If SP already has a strong contender on the same seat, both claims will be compared before a final decision is taken.
It means SP will scrutinise every spect before sharing the seat with Congress. This is a clear humiliation to the grand old party under Rahul Gandhi.
Winnability May Become the Key Criterion
Sources say both parties are moving towards a formula where winnability will be the most important factor. A seat may go to the party that has a stronger social base and better electoral prospects in that constituency.
Congress will likely have to demonstrate its strength through past election performance, vote share and local support. SP leaders believe that simply demanding seats will not be enough. The party wants data and ground-level evidence before making any commitments.
SP Wants Candidates in the Field Early
SP is also planning a major change in its election strategy. The party wants to finalise candidates well before the election schedule is announced.
Party leaders believe that early announcements will give candidates enough time to prepare, strengthen their organisation and connect with voters. This approach may also reduce dissatisfaction among ticket aspirants and preventlast-minute disputes.
SP does not want internal divisions or sabotage during the 2027 election campaign. Leaders feel that timely decisions will help workers focus on campaigning rather than internal politics.
A Changing Akhilesh-Rahul Dynamic
The emerging seat-sharing formula is politically important because relations between SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi have not always been smooth. In the past, Akhilesh often criticised Congress and questioned its political approach in UP.
However, the success of opposition unity in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections changed the political equation. Both parties worked together under the INDI bloc banner and managed to improve the opposition’s performance in the state.
Now, instead of public criticism, both sides appear focused on finding a practical formula for cooperation. Political observers see this as an attempt to keep opposition unity intact and avoid a division of anti-BJP votes in the Assembly election.
Around 200 Seats Already Under Review
SP has reportedly completed the initial identification of potential candidates for nearly 200 Assembly seats. The process of shortlisting is expected to begin by the first week of July.
The party leadership is collecting feedback from district presidents, local office-bearers and ground-level workers. Sources say Akhilesh Yadav is personally monitoring the exercise and reviewing reports from different regions.
SP is also conducting discreet assessments of potential candidates to understand their local influence, public image and organisational strength.
Disaster 2024 Lok Sabha Polls
SP leaders believe that some mistakes in ticket distribution during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections affected the alliance’s overall performance in Uttar Pradesh. According to party insiders, the INDI bloc could have won more seats if candidate selection had been handled more carefully in certain constituencies.
As a result, SP wants to avoid similar errors in the Assembly elections. The party is focusing on detailed ground assessments and data-driven decisions before finalising candidates and alliance arrangements. However, People of UP knows how bad the Akhilesh Yadav’s government was in past and may not fall for it.
While the exact number of seats Congress may receive remains unclear, one message from SP appears consistent: seats will go where the alliance believes it has the strongest chance of victory. The focus, party leaders say, is not on which party contests a seat, but on who is most capable of defeating the BJP. However, the policies and the work that the BJP has done under the leadership of CM Yogi for UP is phenomenal and the INDI alliance may not get issues to attack.
