Akhilesh Yadav's 181-seat revelation puts the SP-Congress alliance's seat-sharing strategy under the spotlight. (Img: X)
New Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday indicated that the Congress is seeking a significantly larger share of seats in the run-up to the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, revealing that its ally has sought 181 of the state's 403 constituencies.
Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026, Yadav disclosed the Congress's demand while responding to questions about the ongoing seat-sharing discussions within the INDIA bloc. Asked whether the Congress had sought 100 seats, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said its demand was considerably higher. When asked if the figure was 200, he responded that it was slightly lower. Asked specifically whether the party had sought 180 seats, Yadav quipped, "Add one to 180."
The remarks have brought the question of seat allocation within the Opposition alliance into focus well ahead of the crucial Assembly contest, with both parties seeking to consolidate their position against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
While acknowledging the Congress's demand, Yadav maintained that the Samajwadi Party had already arrived at a decision regarding the number of constituencies it intended to contest. "Our relationship with the Congress party is very good," he said, while reiterating that the larger objective of the alliance was to defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
The SP chief also expressed confidence about the political outcome of the next Assembly elections, saying that the existing political order in the state would change. Referring to the summit's theme, 'New Rules. New Realities', he remarked that the prevailing political circumstances in Uttar Pradesh would undergo a transformation.
The Congress's demand assumes significance in view of its electoral performance in the state over the past several decades. The party last held power in Uttar Pradesh in 1989, following which its political influence steadily diminished.
In the 2022 Assembly elections, the Congress contested independently but managed to secure only two of the state's 403 seats. Its performance was weaker than its tally of seven seats in the 2017 elections. The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, won 111 seats in the 2022 polls.
However, the Opposition's performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections gave the Congress renewed confidence about its prospects in the state. Contesting in alliance with the SP, the Congress won six parliamentary constituencies, while the Samajwadi Party secured 37 seats. The BJP was restricted to 33 seats in the state.
The improved performance of the INDIA bloc has consequently strengthened the Congress's position in negotiations over seat distribution for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are scheduled for early 2027 and are expected to witness a significant contest between the BJP and the Opposition alliance led by the Samajwadi Party. With 403 Assembly constituencies, Uttar Pradesh remains one of the most politically consequential states in the country. The SP is seeking to build on its 2024 Lok Sabha performance, while the Congress is looking to expand its electoral footprint through a stronger negotiating position within the alliance.
The Samajwadi Party has also announced that it will release its 'Jan-Man Manifesto' for the 2027 Assembly elections on November 26, coinciding with Constitution Day. The seat-sharing discussions are likely to emerge as a key test of the cohesion of the INDIA bloc as the parties prepare to take on the BJP government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
