As the 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach, parties are ramping up their strategies to clinch the most crucial seats, with Uttar Pradesh (UP) becoming a primary battleground due to its high number of seats.
The opposition, united under the banner of the ‘INDIA Alliance’, spearheaded by Congress and the Samajwadi Party, has been buoyed by recent victory in the Ghosi by-election, instilling hope and fostering intensive discussions on seat sharing in the UP region. The Congress Party, invigorated and optimistic, is now aiming to secure at least 20 pivotal Lok Sabha seats in the region, a significant increase from its sole victory in 2019.
State president Ajay Rai has initiated dialogues, drawing insights from former MPs, MLAs, and candidates to understand the grassroots sentiments and weigh the party’s standing in various constituencies. This analysis forms a critical part of their strategy to not only retain strongholds but to rejuvenate their presence in areas where they previously secured second and third positions.
Significant attention is being directed towards the constituencies where the Congress had a notable vote share, including Ghaziabad, Barabanki, and Varanasi, amongst others. The party aims to rebuild a strong foothold leveraging the voter base in these regions while also revisiting strategies that garnered them substantial seats in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
Sonia Gandhi is speculated to contest once again from the Rai Bareli constituency, a region that has historically stood with the Congress. Moreover, strategies are being devised to revitalise connections with traditional vote banks and regain the lost ground over the years.
As the Congress strategizes, focusing on historical performances and recent successes, there is an undercurrent of uncertainty and challenge in harmonising the seat allocation within the ‘India Alliance’. Both the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are formidable forces in UP, bringing to the table a critical question of striking a balance that would optimise the strengths of both parties while presenting a united front against the BJP-led NDA government.
While the final blueprint of the seat distribution remains under wraps, the congress party, rich with history and newly refuelled with recent wins, steps into the preparations with a strategy that is hoped to pivot their trajectory in the UP region, aiming to transform the political landscape in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.