Congress-SP seat sharing talks advance as Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav reportedly prepare a draft for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Qalam Times News Network
Lucknow | October 14, 2026
LUCKNOW: Congress-SP seat sharing has emerged as a key focus of opposition preparations for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, with the Congress and the Samajwadi Party reportedly moving towards a preliminary agreement on constituency allocation. Following initial discussions between senior leaders, a draft seat-sharing arrangement is said to have been prepared, although the final number of seats each party will contest has yet to be officially announced.
The proposed understanding is aimed at coordinating the electoral strategies of the two parties ahead of the state polls scheduled for next year. According to information cited in political circles, the discussions include the possibility of Congress leaders contesting certain constituencies under the Samajwadi Party’s election symbol, particularly in seats traditionally associated with the Congress. The allocation is reportedly being considered on the basis of each party’s local influence and electoral strength.
The Congress-SP seat-sharing negotiations follow the cooperation between the two parties during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, when they contested as allies under the INDIA bloc. Their performance in that election has encouraged both organisations to explore a coordinated approach for the Assembly polls, with constituency-level planning expected to play an important role in their preparations.
A Previous Alliance and the Road Ahead
The political relationship between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party has experienced changes over the years. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the two parties contested together, with the Samajwadi Party fielding candidates in 298 of the state’s 403 constituencies and the Congress contesting 105 seats. The alliance, however, failed to secure a majority.
The political arrangement subsequently changed, and the Samajwadi Party contested the 2022 Assembly elections without an alliance with the Congress. The two parties later renewed their cooperation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when their joint campaign produced a significant electoral performance in Uttar Pradesh.
With another Assembly election approaching, both parties are now discussing how to translate that cooperation into a constituency-wise arrangement. The central issue is expected to be the distribution of seats in a manner that takes account of existing political strengths, local leadership and the electoral standing of individual candidates.
Samajwadi Party Unwilling to Relinquish Its Established Constituencies
The Samajwadi Party has reportedly made it clear during internal preparations that it does not want to surrender constituencies it considers central to its political base. According to the information provided, the party intends to retain the seats it won in the 2022 Assembly elections and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The party has reportedly begun preparations in these constituencies, with prospective candidates receiving preliminary indications to start election-related work. The move suggests that constituency-level planning is proceeding even as discussions over the broader alliance arrangement continue.
For the Congress, the negotiations involve identifying constituencies where its organisation and local leadership remain influential, while also considering whether cooperation under the Samajwadi Party’s banner could help preserve its representation in selected areas.
Such an arrangement would require coordination between the two parties over candidate selection, campaign management and the distribution of responsibilities at the local level. The precise terms, however, remain subject to an official announcement.
Delhi Meeting Expected to Clarify the Seat-Sharing Formula
A meeting between representatives of the Congress and the Samajwadi Party is expected to take place in Delhi to discuss the remaining details of the proposed arrangement. The meeting is likely to focus on constituency allocation and the framework under which the two parties will coordinate their campaigns.
Neither the final seat distribution nor the complete terms of the reported draft have been formally confirmed in the information available for this report. Until the two parties issue an official statement, the proposed arrangement should be treated as an ongoing negotiation rather than a concluded agreement.
The coming weeks are likely to be important for determining how the alliance will be structured for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Beyond the number of seats allocated to each party, the effectiveness of the arrangement will also depend on candidate selection, local coordination and the ability of both organisations to work together during the campaign.
For now, the reported draft marks a significant stage in discussions between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party. An official announcement from their leadership is awaited to establish the final seat-sharing formula.
