With preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections underway, all political parties are engaged in their respective strategies. Parties are closely analysing alliance dynamics and seat-sharing arrangements.
The Opposition has formed the INDIA alliance to challenge the ruling party. Currently, the Samajwadi Party and the RLSP are part of this alliance. The Congress, a key player, aims to contest 21 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. Akhilesh Yadav has also stated his determination to go to great lengths to defeat the BJP. However, it remains to be seen whether he will show flexibility in response to Congress’ demands. Looking at the past four major elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Congress, which claims 21 seats, seems to be in a continuously weakening position.
In this context, during the 2017 Assembly elections, the Congress and SP formed an alliance in the state. However, in the face of the BJP’s massive surge, the political friendship between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi did not yield significant results. Post-election, the SP blamed Congress for its loss, attributing it to the shortage of Congress workers on the ground and their inactivity. Since then, the relationship between Akhilesh and the Congress has remained distant during subsequent elections.
Insiders reveal that then Pradesh Congress President, Braj Lal Khabri, was not in favour of the alliance. It is also thought that, in order to open the path for alliances, the party appointed Ajay Rai, who contested against Narendra Modi in Varanasi, as the Pradesh Congress President. Ajay Rai, upon assuming the position, announced Rahul Gandhi’s re-entry into the electoral field from Amethi. He also stirred discussions about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contesting the elections, indicating that the Congress would make significant deals in the upcoming general elections. Additionally, the party might also stake claims on seats it won in 2009.
In 2004, Congress secured 12% of the votes, winning nine seats. Five years later, in 2009, the party’s vote share increased to 18.25%. It reaped benefits primarily in the Awadh region, winning nine seats there. The party also gave tough competition to the Samajwadi Party in rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, winning 16 seats. In 2009, SP received 20 seats in rural areas. Akhilesh coined the slogan “Pichhda, Dalit, Alpasankhyak” (Backward, Dalit, Minority) for the 2024 elections. The party’s plan also includes proposing three candidates under the PDA category for 35 seats, after which a screening process will determine the final candidate.
In 2022, the SP solidified its position while Congress saw a decline. Congress could only secure 2.33% of the votes in Uttar Pradesh, winning just two seats.
It remains to be seen how Akhilesh Yadav handles the Congress in the 2024 elections. This will become evident in the days to come.