The Opposition INDIA bloc faced another setback today with the Samajwadi Party (SP) releasing a list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. This move comes amid ongoing seat-sharing discussions with the Congress. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav asserted that his party will make independent decisions without requiring clearance from the Congress.
The Congress has been met with disappointment in terms of seat sharing, with Mamata Banerjee refusing their proposal in Bengal and AAP’s Bhagwant Mann doing the same in Punjab. Furthermore, the entire Opposition was shocked by Nitish Kumar’s defection to the BJP, as he took oath as the Bihar Chief Minister for the ninth time on Sunday.
The Samajwadi Party’s potential difficulties in forming an alliance became evident last year when the Congress’ local leaders in Madhya Pradesh disregarded the central leadership’s agreement with Akhilesh Yadav for six seats. State party chief Kamal Nath’s controversial comment, “Don’t know any Akhilesh-Vakilesh,” caused significant outrage within the Samajwadi camp.
By releasing a list of 16 candidates, Akhilesh Yadav sent a clear message to the Congress that if they want an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, they must accept the terms proposed by the Samajwadi Party. This move indicates that the Samajwadi Party will make independent decisions within the alliance.
For the 80-seat Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav has offered the Congress 11 seats. In the previous 2019 elections, in alliance with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party did not contest from Amethi and Rae Bareli as a gesture of courtesy.
Among the candidates announced today is Dimple Yadav, the wife of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who will be contesting from the family stronghold of Mainpuri. Mamata Banerjee has limited seat sharing in Bengal to no more than two seats, urging the Congress to reflect on their electoral performance and ambitions. Akhilesh Yadav had previously made a similar point.
In the 2019 elections, the Congress won only one seat in Uttar Pradesh, Raebareli, as Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani in Amethi. Mamata Banerjee has argued that giving the Congress more than two seats would be equivalent to handing them over to the BJP, a party she has been fighting against for the past five years. In Bengal, the BJP has surpassed the Left Front, securing the second spot.
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