Congress eyes 'resourceful' candidates in UP amid seat-sharing tussle

Amid an ongoing tussle with the Samajwadi Party (SP) over seat-sharing ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Congress is planning to give tickets primarily to “resourceful candidates” with strong financial backing to ensure a stronger position during the campaign.A senior Congress functionary told India Today that the party intends to contest the high-stakes elections “seriously” and, therefore, candidates with a strong public standing and sufficient resources at their disposal will be given preference.However, the functionary added that exceptions would be made wherever a strong candidate from a humble background has a realistic chance of winning. Candidates are also expected to contribute to the party fund to strengthen the organisation.“We have seen in the past how non-serious people take tickets and receive money from the party but later become inactive to save that money for themselves. This will not happen again,” the functionary said. The approach appears to be shaped by the Congress’s experience in the 2022 state polls, when the party reportedly provided up to Rs 70 lakh to several candidates to contest.Following the elections, complaints emerged that several candidates who received funds for campaigning did not spend adequately on their campaigns and instead saved the money for themselves. Despite contesting 399 seats, the Congress managed to win only two.CONGRESS PUSHES FOR BIGGER SHARE Buoyed by its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and what party leaders describe as Rahul Gandhi’s growing acceptance in North India, the Congress is sending strong signals to the Samajwadi Party for a more equitable seat-sharing arrangement.Saharanpur Congress MP Imran Masood has recently hit out at the SP, saying the Congress would not “ruin itself” merely to help Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav form the government in the coming polls by compromising on seats.UP Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, too, has been strongly pressing for 50 per cent of the 403 Assembly seats.Similarly, at least two prominent Congress leaders from Uttar Pradesh told India Today that the party is firmly pushing for an “equal distribution” of seats and would not want to go below 115-120 seats under any circumstances.Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav has said the alliance with its partners will continue in future elections, asserting that the formula will be “victory, not seats”.Congress leaders point out that in the 2017 Assembly elections, the party contested 114 seats in alliance with the SP, when Akhilesh Yadav was the Chief Minister.The party is now doubling down on its argument that Dalit, minority and non-Yadav OBC voters are increasingly consolidating behind Rahul Gandhi, particularly around issues such as the Constitution and social justice.“We have many things in the pipeline. From a yatra from Ballia to Meerut, covering Purvanchal and Awadh, to a focused campaign on social justice and the Constitution, the best of the Congress is yet to come,” a senior Congress leader said.The party is hoping to build on its 2024 Lok Sabha performance, when it won six seats in Uttar Pradesh.With organisational preparations underway through the Sangathan Srijan initiative and preparations being made across all 403 Assembly constituencies, the Congress believes it has a stronger case for a larger share in the alliance.Party insiders also argue that the Yogi Adityanath-led government is beginning to face anti-incumbency after two consecutive terms and nearly a decade in power, adding another layer of confidence to the Congress’s electoral calculations.- EndsPublished By: Karishma Saurabh KalitaPublished On: Sep 2, 2026 07:24 IST