Congress Targets 30 Lok Sabha Seats in Uttar Pradesh as Seat-Sharing Talks Commence with Samajwadi Party

In the first round of discussions held in New Delhi, the Congress and Samajwadi Party leaders initiated talks on seat-sharing, with the Congress eyeing 30 Lok Sabha seats, including Lucknow, for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Uttar Pradesh.

Represented by senior leaders Ram Gopal Yadav and Javed Ali, the Samajwadi Party engaged in talks with Congress leader Salman Khurshid. The discussions aimed not only at determining the seat-sharing formula but also at fortifying the alliance's strength ahead of the Congress's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, scheduled to kick off from Manipur on January 14.

Congress leaders expressed satisfaction with the amicable and fruitful discussions, emphasizing their intention to field candidates on 30 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. The second round of talks is scheduled for January 13, as both parties work towards finalizing the alliance and seat distribution.

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai highlighted that the central leadership is actively engaged in seat-sharing talks with alliance partners. Meanwhile, the Congress, which secured one seat in Uttar Pradesh during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, is strategically evaluating the strengths of the party across all 80 constituencies in the state.

The Congress is considering not only the 21 seats it won in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections but also eyeing Muslim-dominated seats in West Uttar Pradesh. Recent U.P. Jodo Yatra results indicated a growing inclination of Muslims towards the Congress, influencing the party's strategy.

Key constituencies, including Lucknow, Badaun, Ballia, Prayagraj, Sitapur, and Aonla, are on the Congress's radar. With a robust presence in districts like Kanpur, Pratapgarh, Farrukhabad, Jhansi, Bareilly, Unnao, Moradabad, Domariyaganj, Barabanki, Maharajaganj, and Sultanpur, the Congress aims to make significant strides in the upcoming elections.

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Rahul Gandhi, is strategically planned to cover 20 districts in Uttar Pradesh, aligning with the constituencies where the Congress intends to field candidates. The route map includes key districts like Varanasi, Prayagraj, Lucknow, Meerut, Agra, and others, reinforcing the party's historical strongholds.

As seat-sharing discussions progress and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra gains momentum, political observers keenly anticipate the Congress's strategic moves in Uttar Pradesh, setting the stage for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.