Congress Takes a Page Out of BJP’s Playbook, Courts Smaller Parties for UP Polls

Congress-Samajwadi Party Rift Widens Over UP Seat Sharing as Smaller Parties Enter the Picture

The uneasy relationship between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party is once again showing signs of strain, with the two INDIA bloc allies now sparring over seat-sharing for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

At the heart of the disagreement is the Congress’s desire to move away from what party leaders describe as a “younger brother” role in Uttar Pradesh. The party is also exploring a broader alliance with smaller political outfits, particularly those representing non-Yadav OBC and Dalit communities.

The strategy draws from a formula that has worked for the BJP in the state — combining its own organisational strength with alliances with smaller caste-based parties to build a wider social coalition.

CONGRESS SEEKS LARGER SHARE

The Congress is reportedly seeking around 200 of Uttar Pradesh’s 403 Assembly seats. A significant portion of those seats could subsequently be allocated to smaller parties willing to join a broader alliance, according to sources.

The demand reflects the Congress’s attempt to expand its footprint in a state where the Samajwadi Party has traditionally been the principal opposition force against the BJP.

The BJP’s experience with smaller allies is being closely watched. In the 2022 Assembly election, the BJP fought alongside parties including the Nishad Party and Apna Dal (Sonelal), helping it retain power with 255 seats. That was below its 312-seat tally in 2017 but still gave the party a comfortable majority.

For the Congress, the appeal of such alliances lies in their ability to bring together different caste and community groups rather than relying exclusively on its traditional support base.

SMALLER PARTIES IN FOCUS

Several smaller parties are now part of the Congress’s political calculations.

Sources said former BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya’s group and the Nishad Party have been in contact with the Congress. Maurya had left the BJP before the 2022 Assembly election and contested the Fazilnagar seat on a Samajwadi Party ticket, but lost.

The Nishad Party, meanwhile, fought the 2022 election as a BJP ally and won six seats.

Speculation over Maurya’s next political move intensified after he met Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi in Delhi on Saturday. The meeting has fuelled talk of a possible understanding between his group and the Congress.

The Nishad Party is also reportedly in touch with the Congress, although the contours of any potential alliance remain unclear.

CONGRESS WANTS TO RESET ITS ROLE

Congress leaders believe the party needs to establish itself as a stronger force in Uttar Pradesh rather than remain dependent on the Samajwadi Party.

Party sources argue that the Congress has taken on the BJP directly on several national political issues and that its performance in the last Lok Sabha election has strengthened its case for a larger role in the state.

The party’s state leadership has also been pressing for an early resolution to the seat-sharing question.

Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam has repeatedly called for the issue to be settled quickly, adding pressure on the Samajwadi Party to engage in negotiations.

The Samajwadi Party, however, is pushing back.

SP MP Dharmendra Yadav has responded to Congress leaders by pointing to the party’s organisational strength and ground-level presence in Uttar Pradesh, signalling that the seat-sharing negotiations are unlikely to be straightforward.

SEAT-SHARING TALKS LIKELY TO INTENSIFY

The Congress is now considering setting up a committee to lead negotiations with the Samajwadi Party. The proposed panel could include senior state leaders and would be tasked with discussing seat allocation as well as broader alliance arrangements.

For the Congress, the objective is not simply to secure more seats. It is also looking to use the negotiations to build a wider coalition that includes smaller parties with influence among specific caste and community groups.

For the Samajwadi Party, however, conceding a significantly larger share of seats could affect its own organisational and electoral calculations.

With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election still ahead, the contours of the opposition alliance remain unsettled. But the emerging tussle makes one thing clear: seat-sharing is becoming an important test of the relationship between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, while smaller parties could play a crucial role in determining how the opposition coalition takes shape.