Ballia (UP), Oct 24 Lok Sabha MP from Salempur Ramashankar Rajbhar ‘Vidyarthi’ on Saturday claimed that the seat-sharing formula for the INDIA bloc has been finalised.
He further stated that the Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto will be released on November 26.
Speaking to PTI at his residence in Belthara Bazar village on Saturday evening, Rajbhar said, “Our formula is set. It is a single, unified formula — one designed to ensure victory for the INDIA bloc.
“The Samajwadi Party will contest the seats it is capable of winning, and the Congress will contest the seats where it has a strong chance of victory. In this election, the specific number of seats does not matter; what matters is winning.”
Regarding the Samajwadi Party’s election manifesto, Rajbhar said, “It will be released on November 26, and all preparations for it are complete.” He added that the manifesto would address the pressing issues faced by the general public.
When asked about the claims made by Congress leaders for more than 175 seats, Rajbhar said, “Everyone has the right to stake a claim. Ultimately, the seats for the INDIA bloc will be determined by the top leadership of both parties.”
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are due to take place in early 2027. The state has 403 Assembly constituencies.
The remarks by Rajbhar came a day after Congress’ Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam had told PTI that the list was shared with Samajwadi Party leaders a couple of days ago, and the leaders of the two parties will soon discuss the seat-sharing arrangements in detail.
“I can’t give you the exact numbers, but we have submitted a list for 175 to 200 seats,” Gautam told PTI on Friday, hinting that the party is open to negotiations ahead of polls to the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
The leadership of both parties will sit together to chalk out nitty-gritties of the seat-sharing arrangements, Gautam had said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had said that the collective goal is to remove the BJP from power, and the alliance will move forward effectively.
Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Friday, he said, “The Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the INDIA bloc must be strengthened. Our collective goal is to see that the BJP is removed. To ensure the ouster of the BJP, we will make people understand, and we will do so. The alliance will move forward effectively to defeat the BJP.”
The Congress contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections on its own but could win only two seats, faring worse than its seven-seat show in 2017.
However, the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results — which saw the Congress win six seats and its ally Samajwadi Party secure 37 seats, limiting the BJP to 33 — have raised the party’s hopes, its leaders said.
The 2027 contest is shaping up primarily between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Samajwadi Party-led Opposition, with the Congress seeking a substantial share of seats in a renewed alliance.
Smaller NDA allies, including the Apna Dal (S) and the Nishad Party, could play supporting roles.
The BSP remains a separate factor in Uttar Pradesh, where seat-sharing and caste equations will influence the contest.
(PTI News)
