In Uttar Pradesh, four months ago, SP and Congress had jointly defeated BJP, but the issue of seat sharing could not be reached in the by-elections. Now Congress has left the by-election field open for SP. SP has fielded its candidates on all 9 seats and Congress is in the role of silent player. Akhilesh Yadav is also going to start the election campaign after Diwali, but the plan for the joint rally with Congress has not been made yet. The question arises that if Congress chooses to remain silent in the by-elections, will it be a political gain or loss for SP?
The political chemistry of Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav was a hit in the Lok Sabha elections. SP-Congress alliance had won 43 seats out of 80 in UP and BJP has come down from 62 to 33 seats. SP gave credit for the victory of India alliance to Akhilesh, Congress gave credit to Rahul Gandhi. The coordination between SP and Congress is not visible in the by-elections like in the Lok Sabha elections. In such a situation, the biggest challenge before Akhilesh Yadav is to maintain his PDA formula i.e. backward Dalit minority votes in favor of SP.
Congress left field for SP
Congress was demanding five seats in the by-election, but SP wanted to give only two seats – Khair and Ghaziabad. Congress did not find both the seats politically favorable for itself, due to which it refused to contest the by-elections. State Congress President Ajay Rai said that Congress will not contest the by-elections and SP will field its candidates on all the seats. After this Akhilesh Yadav said that it is not a matter of seat but of victory. In such a situation, joint candidates of India Alliance will contest on SP’s election symbol on all 9 seats.
Congress’s well thought out strategy
Congress did not happily give up the by-election field but instead played the game as per a well-thought-out strategy. BJP is in a very strong position on the seats which SP was giving to Congress in the by-elections. Congress’s effort was to contest elections on Muslim dominated seats. When Congress’s wishes were not fulfilled, it thought it better to withdraw from the by-elections. The stake of 2027 assembly elections is also hidden behind this. Congress knows that if it contests the by-elections and loses, then its bargaining power will reduce. That is why Congress considered it better not to contest the elections on a weak seat.
Congress’s silence, profit and loss
Congress has definitely supported in the UP by-elections, but no plan has come forward for a joint rally like in 2024. Akhilesh Yadav has definitely called for the support of India Alliance and Congress leaders in a press conference, but no big leader from Congress has given any indication. There was an alliance of Congress and SP in the Lok Sabha elections in UP, and if the opposition is to be believed, then the first choice of Dalits and Muslims was Congress. Congress leaders also say that the victory in the Lok Sabha will be achieved by Rahul Gandhi strongly raising the issue of Constitution and reservation. Got it due to departure.
Vote of Muslims and Dalits
In the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, where Congress contested against BJP, BSP was completely wiped out. To defeat BJP, BSP chief Mayawati’s vote bank also moved towards Congress. Jatav voters are also included in this. Statistics show that if a Dalit voter has to choose between SP and Congress, then Congress may be his first choice. Similarly, the Muslim community also voted outright in favor of SP because of Congress. That is why Akhilesh Yadav is trying to keep Muslims and Dalits with him by calling for an alliance between Congress and India, but Congress is also understanding it very well. That is why Congress is seen playing a silent role.
Akhilesh Yadav will rally on 9 seats
Akhilesh Yadav is starting the by-election campaign from Karhal and his rallies have been organized on all the 9 seats. Congress is fielding its senior leaders in the by-elections, but till now no program has been made for joint rallies of Congress and SP. In this regard, SP leaders say that any decision in this regard should be taken only after talks between the top leadership of both the parties.
Support to SP like Haryana
Congress may be the third party in UP, but it has its own political base. Rahul Gandhi has his own popularity among the Muslim and Dalit communities. If Rahul Gandhi and Congress leaders maintain distance from the by-elections, then it will not be easy for SP to win the by-election battle. Congress says that just as SP had given support in Haryana, on the same lines, Congress has given its tacit support in the UP by-elections. Akhilesh definitely supported Congress in Haryana, but did not participate in the campaign.
