Lucknow: Congress is in talks with at least four smaller regional outfits from Uttar Pradesh even before it goes for seat-sharing negotiations with Samajwadi Party, its INDIA bloc partner in UP.
Though the party functionaries claim that it is conscious of ‘gathbandhan dharma’ and wants to move ahead with SP as an alliance partner, the grand old party’s outreach to smaller political outfits is being seen as a move to strengthen its bargaining power while discussing alliance modalities with SP.
Congress party’s UP in charge Rajendra Pal Gautam has pitched for ‘equal partner’ status and reiterated on Sunday that the party was preparing for 200 seats.
Among smaller outfits in touch with Congress are Apni Janta Party chief Swami Prasad Maurya, who met Rahul on Saturday, followed by Sanjay Chauhan of Janwadi Party (Socialist) and Pankaj Niranjan of Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), on Sunday.
Political analysts said the outreach could serve a dual purpose for Congress — expanding its social and organisational footprint ahead of the 2027 assembly elections while also giving it additional leverage when it sits across the table with SP.
“Congress is trying to strengthen its position before the seat-sharing exercise begins. If it can bring smaller parties with a specific social base into its fold, it can enter negotiations with the SP with a wider alliance proposition,” a political analyst said.
Another analyst said the move should not be seen as Congress preparing to move away from SP.
“The Congress knows the importance of the alliance, but at the same time it would not want to enter seat-sharing talks from a position of weakness. Outreach to smaller parties gives it some room to negotiate,” he said.
The timing of the outreach is also significant as Congress has been signalling an ambition to expand its footprint in UP.
Gautam’s pitch for an ‘equal partner’ status and the party’s preparation for around 200 seats indicate that Congress is looking to negotiate from a position of greater strength. On Monday., Gautam told reporters in New Delhi: “We have asked for equal status in the coalition which means 200 seats and we must do it soon.”
The smaller parties being approached also bring distinct OBC and local support bases, which could add to the broader INDIA bloc’s social arithmetic.
Courtesy : TOI
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