UP Seat-Sharing Tussle: SP May Offer Congress Just 53-55 Seats as Congress Holds Firm on 150
Seat-sharing negotiations between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are heading for a sharp tussle, with the two allies far apart on numbers. The Congress is insisting it will not contest fewer than 150 seats, while the SP is weighing a performance-based formula that would leave its partner with only around 53 to 55 constituencies.
The two formulas
According to reports citing SP sources, the party is working on a winnability-based formula under which the Congress could get 53 to 55 Assembly seats, while the SP itself is preparing to contest around 350 of the state's 403 seats. The calculation rests on the Congress's 2024 Lok Sabha performance: the party won six of the 17 seats it contested in Uttar Pradesh, covering about 30 Assembly segments, and lost the other 11. SP president Akhilesh Yadav has said winning ability should be the basis for deciding seats, arguing that parties should get seats where they have candidates capable of winning.
Congress holds its ground
Congress leaders have pushed back firmly. Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam has publicly said the party would not settle for fewer than 150 seats, calling it a national party entitled to a larger share. Saharanpur MP Imran Masood has echoed that stance. Gautam has also said the seat-sharing arrangement is expected to be finalised in October, and that the party has candidates available to contest all 403 seats.
What's next
The contrasting numbers — 150 against 53-55 — have set the backdrop for negotiations that both sides say will ultimately be decided by their central leadership, with Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav expected to play key roles. For now, each side's public posture appears designed to strengthen its bargaining position before formal talks begin.
Sources: 150 For Congress, 350 For SP: Seat-Sharing Tussle Escalates In UP — Times Now, UP polls 2027: SP puts 55-seat offer on table as Congress pushes for 150 — India TV News, Samajwadi Party's 350-seat preparations put Congress' 150-seat demand in focus — The Tribune
Seat-sharing negotiations between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are heading for a sharp tussle, with the two allies far apart on numbers. The Congress is insisting it will not contest fewer than 150 seats, while the SP is weighing a performance-based formula that would leave its partner with only around 53 to 55 constituencies.
The two formulas
According to reports citing SP sources, the party is working on a winnability-based formula under which the Congress could get 53 to 55 Assembly seats, while the SP itself is preparing to contest around 350 of the state's 403 seats. The calculation rests on the Congress's 2024 Lok Sabha performance: the party won six of the 17 seats it contested in Uttar Pradesh, covering about 30 Assembly segments, and lost the other 11. SP president Akhilesh Yadav has said winning ability should be the basis for deciding seats, arguing that parties should get seats where they have candidates capable of winning.
Congress holds its ground
Congress leaders have pushed back firmly. Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam has publicly said the party would not settle for fewer than 150 seats, calling it a national party entitled to a larger share. Saharanpur MP Imran Masood has echoed that stance. Gautam has also said the seat-sharing arrangement is expected to be finalised in October, and that the party has candidates available to contest all 403 seats.
What's next
The contrasting numbers — 150 against 53-55 — have set the backdrop for negotiations that both sides say will ultimately be decided by their central leadership, with Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav expected to play key roles. For now, each side's public posture appears designed to strengthen its bargaining position before formal talks begin.
Sources: 150 For Congress, 350 For SP: Seat-Sharing Tussle Escalates In UP — Times Now, UP polls 2027: SP puts 55-seat offer on table as Congress pushes for 150 — India TV News, Samajwadi Party's 350-seat preparations put Congress' 150-seat demand in focus — The Tribune
