Full Breakdown
Congress and Samajwadi Party negotiate seat-sharing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections
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Core negotiations and proposed seat list
Congress has handed the Samajwadi Party (SP) a draft list of 172 assembly constituencies for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The list is divided into four categories (A-D) reflecting the party’s assessment of organisational strength. Category A seats are “nearly final”; modest adjustments may be possible for Category B, while Categories C and D remain open to negotiation. A joint committee of leaders from both parties is expected to fine-tune the allocation.
Background & context
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections the INDIA bloc—Congress and SP—won 43 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats (SP 37, Congress 6). The result prompted both parties to extend cooperation to the 2027 state poll. Congress contested the 2022 assembly election alone, winning only 2 of 403 seats, while the SP secured a majority. Those outcomes are now being used by Congress to argue for a larger share of assembly seats.
Key figures & groups
- Priyanka Gandhi Vadra – Congress general secretary, leading the talks.
- Rajendra Pal Gautam – Uttar Pradesh in-charge of Congress.
- Imran Masood – Working president, Uttar Pradesh Congress unit.
- Aradhana Misra – President, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee.
- Akhilesh Yadav – Chief of the Samajwadi Party.
Data & statistics
- Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly: 403 seats.
- Congress-proposed list: 172 constituencies.
- Draft breakdown (NDTV): roughly 100 Category A, 40-50 Category B, 25-35 Category C seats.
- Reported Congress targets: 115-120, around 125, 150, and a 170-seat list.
- SP is said to be willing to allocate 60-65 seats to Congress, emphasizing “winnability”.
- 2024 Lok Sabha: SP 37 seats, Congress 6 in Uttar Pradesh.
- 2022 assembly: Congress contested 399 seats, winning 2.
Official statements & responses
Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam said the demand is based on organisational strength, recent electoral confidence, and the “national popularity of Rahul Gandhi.” He described the final arrangement as “honourable.”
Akhilesh Yadav reiterated that seat distribution will be guided by “winnability,” suggesting a ceiling of 60-65 seats for Congress.
Criticism & opposition
Imran Masood’s comments highlight internal pressure on the SP to accommodate Congress’s larger share, while SP leaders argue that allocations must reflect each party’s ability to win.
Conflicting reports & gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of seats Congress seeks: India Today cites 115-120, Moneycontrol/NDTV mentions around 125, NDTV also notes a possible range of 125-150, and India Today later references a 170-seat list. SP’s willingness to offer 60-65 seats contrasts with Congress’s higher aspirations, and no final agreement has been disclosed. Details of the joint committee and the timeline for a definitive formula remain unclear.
What’s next
Congress plans another round of talks in the coming weeks, after which a list of about 125-150 seats is expected to be presented to the SP. Both parties aim to finalize the alliance before the November deadline cited by NDTV, shaping the opposition’s strategy against the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.