Preparations for Uttar Pradesh 2027 assembly elections have started. SP and Congress have initiated discussions to finalize seat-sharing arrangements.
Retired IAS officer Alok Ranjan leads the survey team for SP, assessing which Congress candidates should receive seats.
Congress Allocation Strategy
Sources indicate Alok Ranjan’s report recommends allotting 70–75 seats to Congress. The party will focus on candidates with strong public support.
SP will consider private surveys and local leader feedback to identify candidates with the best winnability and clean public image.
Akhilesh Supervises Candidate Selection
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav monitors the entire survey process. He ensures no recommendations override survey results and candidate evaluation.
Additionally, eight to ten high-probability Congress candidates may receive tickets separately, beyond the agreed 70–75 allocation.
Local Input and Ethnic Considerations
Akhilesh asked party MLAs and leaders to suggest which Congress candidates suit local constituencies. He emphasized caste and community equations.
SP surveys also identify potential candidates across all 403 assembly seats. Congress initially requested around 120 seats.
Divergent Opinions Within Parties
Some senior Congress leaders worry the alliance might allow BJP to attack on law and order issues, and oppose it.
SP leaders argue Congress has a weak organizational base in UP, but Congress claims its 2024 Lok Sabha contribution warrants significant seats.
Historical Context
Previously, SP-Congress relations experienced ups and downs. In 2023, statements caused tension, but dialogue before 2024 elections resolved disputes.
Now, both parties aim to finalize seat-sharing, emphasizing social equations and winnable candidates to maintain alliance strength.
