Political activities are intensifying in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the assembly elections scheduled for next year. As the state prepares for a high-stakes electoral battle, the Congress party has formulated a comprehensive masterplan to ensure a strong performance. Sources indicate that there is a high probability of an alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP). To prepare for this, Congress aims to finalize its internal strategy before entering formal seat-sharing negotiations, ensuring it can present a solid case at the discussion table.
The Three-Category Strategy for 160 Seats
As part of its preparation, Congress has conducted a detailed survey across Uttar Pradesh. Based on this survey, the party has identified and shortlisted 160 specific assembly seats. These seats have been meticulously divided into three distinct categories: A, B, and C. This classification is designed to provide a data-driven approach to seat-sharing talks with Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party.
Category A consists of seats where the Congress believes it has a very strong probability of winning on its own strength. Category B includes seats where the party feels a combination of the alliance with SP and the local social equations would make them highly competitive. These are seats where the demographic profile aligns well with the combined vote bank of both parties. Finally, Category C includes seats that have historically been weak for both Congress and the Samajwadi Party. In previous elections, both parties have struggled in these constituencies, and they're now being analyzed to determine the best way forward.
District-Wise Demands and Regional Focus
The Congress party's strategy isn't just about numbers but also about geographical presence. The party intends to mark its presence across the entire state. According to the plan, Congress wants to contest at least 2 seats in every large district and at least 1 seat in every small district of Uttar Pradesh. On top of that, the party is expected to demand a higher number of seats in regions like Amethi and Raebareli, which are traditionally considered its strongholds, as well as in constituencies currently held by its Members of Parliament.
This strategic positioning comes after the experience of the previous Lok Sabha elections. During those elections, Akhilesh Yadav had initially faced a demand for 37 seats from Congress but eventually allotted 17 seats. Out of those 17 seats, Congress managed to win 6. Given this background, the upcoming negotiations for the assembly elections are expected to be intense as both parties seek to maximize their share based on ground reality and social data.
Akhilesh Yadav's Stance and SP's Preparation
On the other side, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is continuously working to energize his party workers and organizational structure. While being open to the alliance, he has been emphasizing that the Samajwadi Party is the primary force capable of challenging the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, while recently, Akhilesh Yadav made a significant statement regarding the party's readiness, stating that the organization and workers are fully prepared across all seats in the state.
He also sent a clear message to potential allies, asserting that any party contesting in alliance with them would benefit from the Samajwadi Party's strong organizational network. " This indicates that while seat-sharing will be a point of discussion, the ultimate focus for the SP-led alliance will be on winnability and defeating the incumbent government.