2 hrs ago
Congress Seeks 150 Seats as UP 2027 Strategy Takes Shape
Congress is preparing for the 2027 election in Uttar Pradesh.
It wants to contest at least 150 seats in an alliance with the Samajwadi Party.
The two parties have not yet agreed on how many seats each will receive.
Congress says the agreement could be completed in October.
The party is also protesting changes to voter lists called the Special Intensive Revision.
Congress says every voter’s rights and the fairness of elections must be protected.
Two Congress workers were arrested after slogans were painted at the Election Commissioner’s residence in Agra.
Congress is also changing its state organisation to prepare for the election.
The party won only two seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, while the BJP won 255.
Congress says seat-sharing with the Samajwadi Party may be finalised in October and seeks at least 150 of Uttar Pradesh’s 403 Assembly seats.
The Congress and Samajwadi Party remain alliance partners, but their 2027 Assembly seat-sharing arrangement is unresolved.
Congress is protesting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and election transparency concerns.
Two Congress leaders were arrested in Agra after Kumar’s residence was defaced with derogatory slogans, police said.
Congress is planning a major Uttar Pradesh organisational overhaul, including new district presidents, amid reports of tensions between Ajay Rai and Rajendra Pal Gautam.
- Who
- The Indian National Congress, the Samajwadi Party, Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, and Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders are central to the developments.
- What
- Congress is preparing its 2027 election strategy, seeking at least 150 alliance seats, protesting electoral-roll revisions, and reorganising its state unit.
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh, including protests in Lucknow and an incident at Gyanesh Kumar’s residence in Agra.
- When
- The preparation concerns the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election; seat-sharing is expected to be discussed or finalised in October.
- Why
- Congress says it wants to protect voters’ rights and election transparency, strengthen the opposition, and secure a substantial role in the alliance.
Congress’s Position
Unresolved or Unreported Positions
Alliance seat-sharing
Congress’s Position
Congress says it is entitled to 50 percent of the seats and will not contest fewer than 150, while saying it has candidates for all 403 constituencies.
Unresolved or Unreported Positions
The Samajwadi Party’s position on Congress’s 150-seat demand has not been stated, and the alliance agreement remains unresolved.
Electoral-roll revision
Congress’s Position
Congress says the Special Intensive Revision raises voter-rights and election-transparency concerns and has organised protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Unresolved or Unreported Positions
The articles do not provide a response from Gyanesh Kumar or the Election Commission to Congress’s allegations.
State leadership changes
Congress’s Position
Congress leaders say organisational changes are needed to strengthen the opposition before the 2027 election.
Unresolved or Unreported Positions
Reports cited in the article describe internal differences between Ajay Rai and Rajendra Pal Gautam, while any final leadership decision remains unconfirmed.
Key facts
- Election
- The Uttar Pradesh Assembly election is scheduled for 2027.
- Assembly size
- The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly has 403 seats.
- Congress seat demand
- Congress says it will not contest fewer than 150 seats under the alliance arrangement.
- Alliance
- Congress and the Samajwadi Party contested the 2024 Lok Sabha election together in Uttar Pradesh.
- Seat-sharing timeline
- Congress says the 2027 alliance seat-sharing arrangement will likely be finalised in October.
- 2022 result
- The BJP won 255 seats, the Samajwadi Party won 111, and Congress won two seats in the 2022 Assembly election.
- Electoral-roll dispute
- Congress is protesting the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and has made election transparency a central issue.
Quotes
Rajendra Pal Gautam
Congress state in-charge for Uttar Pradesh
“In the run up to the upcoming Assembly Elections, we are gearing up to revamp our organisation to further consolidate the Opposition's position in UP. As was seen in 2024, the people of UP have decided to throw out the BJP and the Congress will play a critical role in ensuring their defeat.”
livemint.com
“Seat-sharing will likely be finalised in the month of October. Congress has candidates available to contest all 403 seats. Under the alliance, the Congress party is entitled to get 50 per cent of the seats. Congress will not contest fewer than 150 seats.”
livemint.com
Sources
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