The Uttar Pradesh meeting elections are scheduled for early subsequent yr, and the Congress has began figuring out the seats it’ll contest, directing the All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary to submit an inventory of potential candidates for the constituencies the occasion is more likely to search throughout seat-sharing talks with its ally Samajwadi Social gathering (SP).
Congress leaders are notably cautious of complicating negotiations after delays in seat-sharing talks and “pleasant preventing” between India’s bloc allies within the 2025 Bihar meeting elections price the election, calling it a “pricey expertise”.
A celebration supply advised The Indian Categorical that the AICC basic secretary for Uttar Pradesh, Avinash Pande, had requested six occasion secretaries within the state to organize two lists. “Whereas the primary checklist consists of potential candidates for all 403 Home seats, the second checklist identifies round 100-120 seats with sturdy prospects,” the official stated.
The occasion has internally divided the 403 meeting constituencies in Uttar Pradesh into three classes: excessive potential, marginal and weak. “To this point, we’ve recognized over 100 seats within the first class, round 200 seats within the second class and round 120 seats within the third class,” a Congress chief stated.
An AICC secretary who participated within the train stated suggestions was being collected from native models and volunteers. “We’re within the strategy of assessing the constituencies and speaking to leaders all in favour of campaigning. Most of us will submit our reviews to our officers throughout the subsequent few days,” the official stated.
Social gathering sources stated the Congress goals to contest round 80 seats as a part of its alliance with the SP. We establish about 100 to 120 seats that we predict are aggressive and finally decide on about 80 seats. We additionally don’t need seats the place the social combine is in opposition to us. The main target is on winnable constituencies,” a celebration supply stated.
Leaders are additionally cautious of giving state-level officers an excessive amount of affect over the method. “There’s a want for stability. Nobody within the UP occasion needs an alliance, as it might scale back the variety of seats and the affect of native leaders. This sentiment was evident when the management was persuaded to go it alone within the 2022 meeting elections. All of us noticed the results,” stated a Delhi-based Congress chief from Uttar Pradesh.
Within the 2022 meeting polls, the Congress contested a complete of 403 seats however received solely two, lowering its vote share to a historic low of two.33%.
Pande advised The Indian Categorical on Sunday that preparations for the 2027 polls began six months in the past. “Step one was to strengthen the group and that course of has been accomplished. Now we have recognized 2,200 potential candidates for the state’s quota of 403,” he stated.
Concerning the partnership with SP, Pande stated talks will start on the applicable time. “When the time comes for seat-sharing talks, the Congress will work with the SP,” he stated.
maintain your choices open
Whereas the Congress excessive command, together with opposition chief Rahul Gandhi, is in favor of continuous the alliance with the SP, some throughout the occasion need to maintain open the choice of contesting independently.
“Our alliance with the SP labored very properly within the 2024 Uttar Pradesh meeting elections. Due to that alliance, the BJP fell to lower than a majority with 240 seats throughout the nation. Why disturb that pact now?” stated a senior Congress chief stated to be near Gandhi.
Within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP and Congress contested 63 and 17 seats respectively in Uttar Pradesh. The alliance received a complete of 43 seats, 37 for the SP and 6 for the Congress.
Leaders conversant in the occasion’s technique stated the Congress intends to deal with Muslims, Dalits and Brahmins for the meeting polls. “The assist of Brahmins is linked to the perceived dissatisfaction throughout the neighborhood over the Adityanath authorities’s alleged prioritization of the Thakur neighborhood. Brahmins have been historically Congress voters in Uttar Pradesh till they shifted to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering for Hindutva politics,” a senior chief stated.
“Dalit votes are equally necessary. Within the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Dalit assist has introduced vital positive aspects to the alliance. Muslims additionally stay an necessary constituency for the Congress,” the chief added.
It’s estimated that Muslims make up about 20% of Uttar Pradesh’s inhabitants, whereas Brahmins make up 7-10%. Dalits make up virtually 20% of the state’s inhabitants.
The Congress hopes to conclude seat-sharing negotiations with the SP by August or September, giving candidates sufficient time to begin campaigning. However occasion leaders admit talks will not be simple.
Within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP agreed to allot 17 of the state’s 80-seat seats to the Congress after prolonged negotiations because of issues about divisive Muslim votes. Discussions on seat-sharing have since been prolonged till the final minute, a scenario each events hope to keep away from forward of the parliamentary vote.
What is going to Priyanka’s function be?
Speculations are rife relating to a change of management within the Uttar Pradesh Congress. There may be rising buzz in each Lucknow and Delhi that there could also be some adjustments within the state management earlier than the elections. Whereas the occasion management stays tight-lipped, staff and leaders within the state are ready for a transparent clarification.
Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s function within the upcoming election marketing campaign additionally stays unclear. A number of senior officers within the state authorities are believed to be near Mr. Vadra and are awaiting a call from the management.
Mr. Vadra led the Congress marketing campaign within the 2022 meeting elections, however the occasion’s efficiency was poor. It stays unclear whether or not she is going to once more play a central function within the marketing campaign, with state leaders nonetheless awaiting course from the excessive command.
