Congress, Samajwadi Party spar over UP poll strategy ahead of elections

Friction between the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) has intensified as Uttar Pradesh heads toward elections, with both regional and national parties jockeying for position in the politically crucial state.

Imran Masood, a senior SP leader, doubled down on claims that defeating the BJP without Congress support would be impossible, urging the alliance to finalize seat-sharing arrangements urgently. His remarks underscored the SP's argument that a strong Congress partnership remains essential for any credible challenge to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Congress countered through Ikra Hasan, an MP elected on the Congress ticket through the alliance arrangement. Hasan suggested that SP leader Akhilesh Yadav himself represents the only viable alternative to the BJP, a statement that appeared to question the collaborative framework between the two parties.

The exchange prompted Congress leader Aseem Waqar to fire back at Hasan, characterizing her as a political newcomer whose recent parliamentary position was secured solely through the Congress-SP alliance. The remark highlighted tensions within the coalition partnership, with questions about the durability of the arrangement in the run-up to elections.