Samajwadi Party and Congress face friction over UP seat-sharing

Political tensions are rising in Uttar Pradesh as the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress navigate alliance dynamics ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections and upcoming Rajya Sabha polls.

For the Rajya Sabha elections scheduled for October 16, the Samajwadi Party has named Professor Ram Gopal Yadav and Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani as its candidates. The announcement drew criticism from Uttar Pradesh Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, who questioned the selection process and challenged the party's 'PDA' (Pichhada, Dalit, Alpashankhyak) political formula.

Simultaneously, friction has emerged regarding seat-sharing for the 2027 Assembly elections. Congress leadership has asserted its entitlement to at least 150 seats, suggesting they are entitled to 50% of the total 403 seats under the alliance. This demand has met resistance from SP members, who urge the Congress to assess its actual ground-level strength and electoral presence rather than making high-level claims. While SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has stated that the parties remain united internally, the public exchange of barbs highlights ongoing competition for political space and leadership within the INDIA bloc.