Archive · 23 Sep 2026
Congress Seeks Up to 200 Seats in Uttar Pradesh Alliance
Congress and the Samajwadi Party may work together in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh election.
Congress wants to contest between 150 and 200 of the state’s 403 seats.
It says Akhilesh Yadav could be the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate.
However, Congress wants what it calls an equal share of seats.
If the parties cannot agree, Congress says it may contest every seat alone.
Formal talks are expected to start next month.
Congress is also rebuilding its organisation and studying past election results.
It may consider talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party, but it does not plan to ally with Asaduddin Owaisi’s party.
Congress plans to seek 150 to 200 seats from the Samajwadi Party for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
If seat-sharing talks fail, Congress says it is prepared to contest all 403 constituencies independently.
Congress has no objection to Akhilesh Yadav being projected as the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate.
Formal negotiations are expected to begin next month, after Congress analyses past electoral data and strengthens its state organisation.
Congress is open to talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party but ruled out an alliance with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress and the Samajwadi Party are the main parties involved, with possible discussions involving the Bahujan Samaj Party and other prospective allies.
- What
- Congress plans to seek 150 to 200 seats from the Samajwadi Party in a prospective alliance for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, while preparing to contest all 403 seats if talks fail.
- When
- The election is scheduled for 2027, and formal seat-sharing negotiations are expected to begin next month.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Why
- Congress wants an equal share of seats, to strengthen its organisation in Uttar Pradesh, and to build on gains made with the Samajwadi Party in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
- Proposed election
- 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections
- Total Assembly seats
- 403
- Congress seat demand
- 150 to 200 seats
- Expected talks
- Formal negotiations are expected to begin next month
- Potential chief ministerial candidate
- Akhilesh Yadav
- Congress organisational campaign
- Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan
- Other alliance positions
- Congress left open talks with the Bahujan Samaj Party and ruled out an alliance with AIMIM