Uncertainty Looms Over Opposition Alliance as Congress and Samajwadi Party Struggle in Seat-Sharing Talks

Lucknow, February 20, 2024, As speculation swirls around the potential participation of Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party chief, in the Congress-led Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, clarity remains elusive. Yadav stated that “Right now talks are going on, lists have come from them, we have also given them the list. The moment seat distribution is done, Samajwadi Party will join their Nyaya Yatra.”

Sources say that the Samajwadi Party has offered the Congress 15 out of 80 Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha seats for the coming elections. In 2019, the Congress faced challenges in the Hindi belt and secured only one seat in Raebareli. The Samajwadi Party, which refrained from contesting in Amethi and Rae Bareli in 2019, now insists on allowing the Congress to contest only 15 seats, emphasizing that the alliance must adhere to this arrangement.

The ball is now in the Congress’s court, and the response to the Samajwadi Party’s offer is eagerly awaited. The Samajwadi Party’s chief, Akhilesh Yadav, has linked his decision to join the ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, led by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, to the acceptance of this offer by the Congress.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary in-charge Communications, expressed hope for Yadav’s participation, stating, “I expect that he will join the Yatra tomorrow”‘

The Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, currently in its 37th day, led by Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, aims to traverse 6,700 km through 15 states, conveying the message of ‘nyay’ (justice) while engaging with the public along the way. The uncertainty surrounding the Samajwadi Party’s involvement adds complexity to the opposition’s strategy in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.