
Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav has proposed that Congress contest 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, part of the I.N.D.I.A bloc’s seat-sharing arrangement. In a letter addressed to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the Samajwadi Party conveyed this offer, awaiting a response from the Congress camp.
Initially, the Samajwadi Party had suggested 11 seats for Congress out of the total 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. However, they have now revised the offer to 17 seats, as disclosed by Rajendra Chaudhary, the chief spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party. The decision for Akhilesh Yadav’s involvement in the Nyay Yatra in Raebareli hinges upon Congress’ acceptance of the proposal.
Despite the confirmation of the offer, the specific constituencies allotted to Congress have not been disclosed by the Samajwadi Party. Meanwhile, the ongoing Gandhi-led yatra, which made its way into Amethi on Monday, is expected to proceed to Raebareli, where Akhilesh Yadav was anticipated to join.
Previously, the Samajwadi Party had put forward 11 seats for the Congress, but the state unit of Congress advocated for a higher share. Ajay Rai, the chief of Congress’ Uttar Pradesh unit, insisted on receiving around two dozen seats, referencing the party’s past victories in the 2009 general elections. Both the Samajwadi Party and Congress are aligned as partners within the opposition INDIA bloc.