By Pradeep Kapoor
LUCKNOW: Congress leadership has initiated within party discussion for an alliance with Samajwadi Party to defeat BJP and dislodge Yogi Adityanath government in 2027 assembly polls. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge convened the meeting to discuss the issue with Rahul Gandhi, AICC UP incharge Rajendra Kumar Gautam, UPCC president Ajay Rai and CLP leader Mona Mishra.
Besides the conditions for the alliance, the complex issue of seat sharing with Samajwadi Parties and other smaller parties and groups was also discussed. Realising the weak organisation as compared to Samajwadi Party the senior leaders are more keen to have alliance at the earliest.
Former MP and former Chairman of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Commission PL Punia has urged senior Congress leaders to initiate dialogue with Samajwadi Party to finalise alliance and seat sharing at the earliest.
But the problem is that Congress leaders are now asking for equal and respectable share in the seats for assembly from Samajwadi Party. AICC UP incharge Rajendra Pal Gautam said publicly that his party would like to have equal number of seats from Samajwadi Party for assembly polls. UPCC president Ajay Rai also supported him.
Congress leadership repeatedly said that party is preparing in all the 403 assembly constituencies but at the same time they are preparing the pool of 150 seats to bargain with Samajwadi Party. There is a realisation in Congress that it was only due to alliance with Samajwadi Party the party got six seats in Lok Sabha in 2024 polls while Samajwadi Party got 37 seats. Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi are also banking on transfer of votes based on their public image and capacity to transfer of votes to other party.
On the other hand Akhilesh Yadav and his Samajwadi Party behave like big brother and they want to have major share in seats so that they can claim the position of CM and more say in government formation if voted to power.
The manner in which Akhilesh Yadav joined hands with Rahul Gandhi in Jantar Mantar protest by students and later on inside and outside Parliament demonstration and protest, the possibility of alliance has grown stronger.
Akhilesh Yadav wants to broaden the social base of the party that is why he keeps defining P of PDA. Sometime P becomes Pichda (backward) and it also becomes pidit (harassed or exploited). But on August 5 during birth anniversary of former union minister and great socialist leader Janeshwar Mishra, Samajwadi Party organised meeting of brahmins at party headquarters and Akhilesh Yadav announced P of PDA stood for Pandit.
Akhilesh Yadav in his address said that during the regime of Yogi Adityanath brahmins were being targetted and humiliated. He urged powerful brahmin community to support Samajwadi Party for better share in power. So much so Akhilesh Yadav announced the candidature of former MLA and brahmin leader Pawan Pande from Ayodhya. This was the first ticket announced by Samajwadi Party. Pawan Pandey during his address at the meeting targetted Yogi Adityanath government and blamed BJP and saffron parivar for targetted attack on Brahmins.
There is a realisation in Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav that unless they join hands it would be very difficult to defeat BJP and prevent Yogi Adityanath becoming Chief Minister for third time. Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi combine are looking towards Brahmins (upset with BJP on issue of donation theft at Ayodhya temple), backwards, dalits and Muslims.
They are also aware that BSP under the leadership of Mayawati would work as B team of BJP to split dalit and muslim votes. Similarly Chandra Shekhar Ravan with his hold over young dalit voters could also damage the alliance in Western UP. AIMIM of Asadullah Owaisi will also be taking part in the assembly polls to cut into Muslim votes.
Under these circumstances Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi will have to join hands and look for respectable seat sharing to take on BJP and other alliance partners of NDA. Although the seat sharing will be a very difficult task for both the parties but common goal to grab the power will pave the way for negotiated settlement. (IPA service)
