New Delhi, February 21: In a pivotal move preceding the Lok Sabha elections, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra engaged in a significant conversation with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav to untangle the impasse surrounding seat distribution in Uttar Pradesh (UP), marking a crucial step towards finalizing the alliance, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The dialogue between Priyanka Gandhi and Yadav on Wednesday aimed to swiftly resolve the deadlock on seat-sharing in UP, expediting the consolidation of the alliance ahead of the impending polls, sources revealed. With the alliance virtually sealed, the sole remaining seat under deliberation is Shrawasti, which the Congress is vying for.
Sources indicate that the Congress is poised to contest between 16 to 18 seats in Uttar Pradesh during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Initially, the Congress expressed dissatisfaction with the allocation of seats, citing concerns over low winnability. However, following the recent discussions, a revised agreement has been brokered, granting the Congress access to constituencies such as Sitapur and Barabanki.
Apart from these contested seats, the Congress is anticipated to secure representation in Kanpur, Varanasi, Saharanpur, Amroha, Fatehpur Sikri, Jhansi, among others, signaling a more equitable distribution within the alliance, as per sources. In the Moradabad division, the Congress had initially sought two seats but has now acceded to contesting from Amroha alone.
Akhilesh Yadav affirmed on Wednesday that an alliance with the Congress is imminent in Uttar Pradesh. Previously, his party had conditioned his participation in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on the acceptance of their proposed seat-sharing arrangement for the elections. Yadav abstained from joining the yatra in Raebareli on Tuesday, fueling speculation that his presence may be expected in Agra following the announcement of the seat-sharing agreement.
Earlier this week, the Samajwadi Party had extended an offer of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh to the Congress, solidifying their partnership within the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties formed to challenge the BJP in the forthcoming general elections.
As the discussions between the Congress and Samajwadi Party intensify and the seat-sharing arrangements solidify, the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh braces for significant developments in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
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