Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Congress May Visit SP Strongholds Amid Uttar Pradesh Alliance Tensions
Akhilesh Yadav visited Raebareli in a special campaign vehicle called the PDA Rath.
Raebareli is the parliamentary constituency of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Congress leader Ajay Rai said Congress leaders may also visit areas strongly associated with the Samajwadi Party.
These areas include Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri.
Yadav is preparing to travel around Uttar Pradesh before next year’s elections.
His campaign focuses on backward, Dalit and minority voters.
The BJP criticized his visit and said Congress should campaign in SP strongholds.
Congress and SP worked together successfully in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
However, their leaders have not yet finalized how they will share seats in the next election.
Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai said Congress leaders may visit Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri in the coming days.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav visited Raebareli aboard his specially designed PDA Rath as part of preparations for next year’s state elections.
Yadav’s PDA campaign is intended to connect with backward, Dalit and minority voters across Uttar Pradesh.
The BJP criticized Yadav’s Raebareli visit and suggested Congress should begin its campaign in Kannauj and Mainpuri.
Congress and SP won 43 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha seats together in 2024, but their future seat-sharing arrangement remains undecided.
- Who
- Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress, the SP and the BJP.
- What
- Congress leaders may visit SP strongholds including Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri after Yadav’s Raebareli visit.
- When
- Rai made the statement on Friday, one day after Yadav’s Raebareli visit; the visits may occur in the coming days.
- Where
- Raebareli, Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Yadav is preparing a PDA Rath campaign for next year’s Uttar Pradesh elections, while Congress and SP are considering their alliance and seat-sharing arrangements.
Congress-SP Alliance Perspective
BJP Criticism
Meaning of Yadav’s Raebareli visit
Congress-SP Alliance Perspective
Ajay Rai said there was nothing wrong with Yadav visiting Raebareli and said Congress and SP had no issue over the visit.
BJP Criticism
The BJP said the visit was intended to demonstrate the SP’s political strength in Raebareli and question Congress’ position there.
Most prominent opposition leader
Congress-SP Alliance Perspective
Rai said Rahul Gandhi was the most prominent opposition leader capable of taking on the BJP.
BJP Criticism
The BJP highlighted statements projecting Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi as competing main opposition faces, describing this as one-upmanship between the parties.
Campaign locations
Congress-SP Alliance Perspective
Congress said it may visit SP strongholds including Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri, while leaving alliance and seat-sharing decisions to party leadership.
BJP Criticism
BJP spokesman Rakesh Tripathi said Congress should ideally begin its political campaign from Kannauj and Mainpuri.
- Congress statement
- Ajay Rai said Congress leaders may visit Etawah, Kannauj and Mainpuri.
- Samajwadi Party campaign
- Akhilesh Yadav is set to travel across Uttar Pradesh on the PDA Rath.
- PDA meaning
- Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhyak, referring to backward, Dalit and minority voters.
- 2024 Lok Sabha result
- Congress and SP together won 43 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 seats.
- Samajwadi Party tally
- The SP won 37 Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha seats in 2024.
- BJP tally
- The BJP won 33 Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha seats in 2024.
- Alliance status
- Congress and SP have not finalized their alliance or seat-sharing arrangements for next year’s elections.