Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Udit Raj Defends Congress-SP Alliance, Criticizes BJP and Government
Congress leader Udit Raj discussed whether the Congress and Samajwadi Party should continue working together.
He said alliances can help parties win many more seats than they might win separately.
He pointed to the parties’ 2024 election results as an example.
Raj said the parties’ senior leaders will make the final decision.
He also criticized BJP leaders over comments about a molestation case in Jamui.
He said the Union Home Ministry had failed to maintain law and order in Delhi.
Raj discussed a trade agreement involving India and New Zealand.
He also supported Giorgia Meloni’s position that young children should not be pressured to follow religious symbols before they are adults.
Udit Raj said political alliances can produce gains greater than simple arithmetic, citing the 2024 Congress-SP seat results.
He said personal comments about the alliance do not determine policy and that the parties’ high commands will make the final decision.
Raj accused BJP leaders of lacking empathy while criticizing Shrawon Kumar’s comments about the Jamui molestation case.
He blamed the Union Home Ministry for law-and-order failures after several sexual-assault incidents in Delhi-NCR.
Raj supported Giorgia Meloni’s reported restrictions on religious clothing in Italian educational institutions and discussed India-New Zealand trade concerns.
- Who
- Congress leader Udit Raj, responding in part to Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan’s remarks.
- What
- Raj defended the potential Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance and commented on crime, trade, and religious clothing in schools.
- When
- Tuesday; the article does not provide a specific date.
- Where
- New Delhi, during comments to IANS; he also discussed incidents in Delhi-NCR, Jamui, Italy, and India-New Zealand relations.
- Why
- He was responding to comments about the alliance and addressing other political questions raised during the interview.
Alliance as an Electoral Necessity
Alliance as a Strategic Choice
Congress-SP cooperation
Alliance as an Electoral Necessity
Iqra Hasan said the Congress cannot win elections in Uttar Pradesh without an alliance.
Alliance as a Strategic Choice
Udit Raj said the 2024 results showed that political cooperation can produce gains beyond simple addition, while stressing that the high commands will decide the parties’ course.
- 2024 seat results
- Raj said 36 Samajwadi Party MPs and 6 Congress MPs were elected after the parties reached an agreement.
- 2019 comparison
- Raj said the Samajwadi Party had 6 elected MPs in 2019.
- Alliance decision
- Raj said the parties’ high commands will make the final decision on contesting elections together.
- Delhi-NCR incidents
- Raj referred to multiple sexual-assault incidents reported in the previous 15 days, including the alleged rape of a minor on a DTC bus.
- Trade discussion
- Raj said New Zealand’s population is comparable to one Lok Sabha constituency and questioned concerns about its products outperforming Indian products.
- Religious clothing
- Raj expressed personal support for Giorgia Meloni’s reported ban on hijabs and burqas in Italian educational institutions.