Lok Sabha Elections 2024 are reaching near and significant decisions and movements have recently impacted the political trajectory in several states within the dynamic Indian political scene. The Janata Dal United (JDU) in Bihar has chosen to realign strategically, departing from its earlier position and allying with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Concurrently, the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, spearheaded by Mamata Banerjee, announced its intention to run for elections on its own, breaking with past coalitions. In Punjab, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been at odds for a long time. This competition has been around since the beginning. In Uttar Pradesh, hopes are building as the Samajwadi Party (SP) (RLD), Congress, and Rashtriya Lok Dal explore the prospect of merging. However, the current dispute over seat distribution increases the possibility of breaking up the intended collaboration of INDIA Alliance, highlighting the difficulties and complexities faced by these evolving political situations.
New Delhi : Following defeats in Bengal, Bihar, and Punjab, INDIA alliance is now in a tough situation in Uttar Pradesh. Tensions are rising between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Congress over seat allocation talks, notably in the 16 seats where the SP leads. Akhilesh Yadav chose candidates freely. and made choices. The INDIA alliance faces complex obstacles in managing the political terrain, which are highlighted by the vital importance of these developments. in Uttar Pradesh, with the potential for these internal frictions to impact the collaborative efforts moving forward.
The Congress party has claims on a total of five of these seats. Furthermore, Barabanki is very important to them. But in light of the importance of the 2027 assembly elections and the forthcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is sticking to its guns and has shown no signs of backing down from these pivotal electoral battlegrounds.
Congress struggles with concerns regarding organizational strain within:
Congress also finds itself at a point where it could become internally strained if it continues to be too flexible. The thunderous cheers from the 28 opposition parties, who had earlier come together to oppose the BJP, have now subsided due to difficulties brought on by poor coordination, especially when it comes to seat distribution, which has caused them to become clearly divided.
Uttar Pradesh is a promising state for the Congress, which gives the party hope :
While Mamata Banerjee, the head of the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, announced her party’s intention to run alone in the polls, the JDU in Bihar announced its decision to leave the INDIA coalition and join the NDA. One enduring problem has been the ongoing disagreement in Punjab between the Congress and the AAP. Right now, Uttar Pradesh is hopeful about a potential cooperative electoral venture between the SP, Congress, and RLD. Still, the main cause of the mounting strain is the increasing disagreement over seat allocation within this possible coalition.
VIDEO | "Neither BJP nor Mamata Banerjee wants good results for Congress. It is unfortunate if a leader of the INDIA bloc says this. She (Mamata Banerjee) herself joined the INDIA alliance. She is afraid of BJP and that's why she is changing her stance," says Congress leader… pic.twitter.com/mXoGEgACLG
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 3, 2024
The Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief, Akhilesh Yadav, declared the following candidates for the party's seats:
The unfortunate result of poor coordination and communication was demonstrated when Akhilesh Yadav, seeking to position himself as the leader of the coalition, declared in advance that 11 seats had been decided upon with the Congress prior to the end of talks with the party. This unilateral proclamation surprised the national and state leadership of the Congress. Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav independently disclosed 16 SP candidates for several seats, including Sambhal, Firozabad, Mainpuri, Etah, Badaun, Kheri, Dhaurahara, Unnao, Lucknow, Farrukhabad, Akbarpur, Banda, Faizabad, Ambedkar Nagar, Basti, and Gorakhpur.
Akhilesh Yadav Consults with Important Supporters:
It was reported on Sunday that Akhilesh Yadav called a gathering of his top advisors to discuss the issue and make it clear what he intended to do. He expressed that he would not wait for the Congress to get a consensus on this matter and that he would be inclined to make his final judgment. At the same time, sources in the Congress claimed to have received a similar message from the Samajwadi Party (SP).
The Congress-SP Seat Allocation Debate Remains Deadlocked:
The leadership of the Congress wants to be represented on at least eighteen seats. The negotiations have come to a standstill over three particular seats, despite the initial willingness to compromise by considering 15–16 seats. The main issues are that Congress wants to field former state president Nirmal Khatri from Faizabad and wants senior leader Ravi Verma or his daughter Purvi Verma, who just defected from the SP to the Congress, to run from Lakhimpur Kheri.
Reluctant to give up the Kheri seat to his renegade leader, Akhilesh Yadav fields nine-time MLA Awadhesh Prasad in the Faizabad Lok Sabha elections in an attempt to keep the Yadav-Pasi equation simple. Similarly, on top of the 16 seats that the SP has officially declared, there is still no resolution about Barabanki. The Congress is in favor of senior leader PL Punia receiving the ticket for this seat, while the SP has also made its claim regarding Barabanki.
Geographical Aspects in Samajwadi Party's View on Caste Relations:
There could be dissension within the party if Congress gives in to SP’s demands on these seats. Simultaneously, in order to gain an advantage in the 2027 assembly elections, SP carefully takes into account the caste dynamics of these areas.
