Vikrant Shekhawat : Oct 23, 2024, 10:58 AM
UP By-Election 2024: Efforts to reach a consensus on seat sharing between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress for the assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh have intensified. There has been a tussle between the two parties over the distribution of seats for some time, but now it appears that the chances of reaching a consensus on this issue have increased. The SP has tried to resolve this impasse by proposing one more seat to the Congress, leading to speculation that the Congress may contest three seats under the 'India' alliance in the by-elections.SP's new proposal and Congress's responseThe Samajwadi Party had earlier offered Ghaziabad and Khair assembly seats to the Congress, but the Congress was constantly demanding five seats. Meanwhile, the SP has made a new proposal to give an additional seat, Phulpur, to the Congress. After this move of the SP, the Congress is seriously considering this proposal and a final decision can be taken on it soon. Amidst this ongoing negotiation between SP and Congress, Congress claims that whatever be the outcome of the talks on seat sharing, it will contest the by-elections unitedly with SP.Congress' demand and SP's decisionCongress had demanded five seats, while SP had earlier offered only two seats. But now after SP's new proposal regarding Phulpur assembly seat, Congress's position seems strong. Congress had agreed on Ghaziabad and Khair seats, and now after the offer of Phulpur as the third seat, Congress may get an opportunity to contest on three seats. Congress leader Ajay Rai said that India Alliance will contest the elections unitedly and this alliance of SP-Congress can emerge as a strong option.UP by-election and SP's positionSamajwadi Party has already announced its candidates on 7 seats in Uttar Pradesh, which include Karhal, Sisamau, Phulpur, Milkipur, Katehari, Majhwan and Meerapur. By-elections are to be held in UP on a total of nine seats, out of which SP has fielded its candidates on most of the seats. Now the Phulpur seat may come in the share of Congress, which will give Congress a chance to play an important role in the by-elections.SP's strategy in MaharashtraThe strategy behind this seat sharing of SP is not limited to Uttar Pradesh only. According to sources, SP wants to increase its political presence in Maharashtra as well. The party plans to contest 12 seats in the Maharashtra assembly elections, and for this it is trying to satisfy the Congress in Uttar Pradesh. After reaching an agreement with the Congress in UP, the SP is hoping to get better seats from the Congress and other constituent parties in Maharashtra.Result and future prospectsThis ongoing conversation between SP and Congress regarding the assembly by-elections in Uttar Pradesh is important not only for the politics of the state but also for the unity of the 'India' alliance at the national level. It will be interesting to see what kind of success this alliance of the two parties will achieve in the upcoming elections.