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Priyanka Gandhi to lead Congress seat-sharing talks with Samajwadi Party

Congress has tasked Priyanka Gandhi with spearheading negotiations with Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav over seat allocation for upcoming elections. The move underscores the party's strategy to strengthen its position in Uttar Pradesh through alliance politics.

LSN India · 20 October 2026

Congress party insiders have indicated that Priyanka Gandhi will assume a central role in brokering seat-sharing arrangements with Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav, signalling the party's determination to coordinate closely with regional allies in Uttar Pradesh.

The assignment reflects Congress's broader electoral strategy in the state, where building consensus on seat distribution has proven pivotal in previous contests. By placing Gandhi at the forefront of negotiations, the party aims to leverage her political standing and interpersonal skills to facilitate discussions with the SP leadership.

Seat-sharing arrangements between national and regional parties have historically shaped electoral outcomes in Uttar Pradesh, with divisions over candidate allocation often threatening alliances. The Congress delegation's focused engagement with the Samajwadi Party comes as both parties seek to maximize their combined electoral footprint in the state.

The timing of these talks reflects both parties' efforts to present a unified opposition front in a politically significant state. How the negotiations unfold will likely influence the broader dynamics of alliance-building across northern India's electoral landscape.