Archive · 8 Oct 2026
SP, Congress Jockey for Leverage in UP Seat Talks
The Samajwadi Party and Congress want to work together in Uttar Pradesh, but they are also arguing over how many seats each should contest.
Congress leaders say their party needs a fair share and room to grow.
The SP says the most important thing is choosing candidates who can win.
Leaders from both parties say the public arguments are not the real negotiations.
They expect senior leaders to make the final decision.
Meanwhile, both parties are meeting or reaching out to other political figures.
These moves may help them show they have choices before seat talks begin.
Neither party says the alliance is over.
The Samajwadi Party and Congress say their alliance is firm, though leaders from both parties have publicly pressed their case before seat-sharing talks.
Congress leaders have floated claims ranging from 150 to 200 seats and called for equal respect and a fair share.
The SP has stressed that seats should go to candidates who can win, and one SP MP warned that giving Congress even 50 seats could cost winnable constituencies.
Both parties say the public exchanges are not the negotiations, which they expect senior leaders to handle.
The parties are also signalling wider options through contacts with other political figures and parties, including the AAP and leaders associated with the NDA.
- Who
- The Samajwadi Party and Congress, along with their leaders and potential political partners.
- What
- The parties are manoeuvring ahead of negotiations over seat-sharing for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election.
- When
- Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election; the article cites statements and developments on September 21, October 2 and October 3.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, with the parties' senior leaders expected to negotiate in Delhi and Lucknow.
- Why
- Congress is seeking space to rebuild in the state, while the larger SP is weighing how much to concede without weakening the alliance.
Congress's case
SP's case
How seats should be allocated
Congress's case
Congress leaders argue for equal respect and a substantial share, saying the party needs room to rebuild in Uttar Pradesh.
SP's case
The SP says seats should be allocated based on who can win and argues that conceding too many could cost the alliance winnable constituencies.
Relative strength in the alliance
Congress's case
Congress points to winning six Lok Sabha seats in 2024 and to its efforts to build its own leadership and political contacts.
SP's case
The SP points to its 37 Lok Sabha seats in 2024 and its position as the larger Opposition force in the state.
- SP Lok Sabha seats in 2024
- 37
- Congress Lok Sabha seats in 2024
- 6
- Congress MLAs in Uttar Pradesh
- 2
- Congress seat claims cited
- Rajendra Pal Gautam first spoke of 150 seats and later said he had spoken of 200.
- SP position
- Akhilesh Yadav said seat allocation should focus on winnability.
- Expected senior negotiators
- Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for Congress; Akhilesh Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav for the SP.
- Other political contacts mentioned
- The article cites SP contacts with AAP's Sanjay Singh and outreach involving leaders associated with the NDA.