Politics · India Bureau
SP MP claims Congress gains from alliance; Gandhi camp fires back
A Samajwadi Party MP has suggested that the Congress party would have drawn a blank in the 2024 general elections without SP support in Uttar Pradesh, drawing a sharp rejoinder from the opposition party.
LSN India ·
An MP from the Samajwadi Party has reignited tensions over seat-sharing arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, asserting that Congress would have failed to secure any Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 elections without the alliance with SP.
Shiv Pal Singh Patel, the SP member representing Pratapgarh, made the remarks while discussing the terms of the electoral partnership between the two parties. His comments suggested that the Congress party's electoral performance was heavily dependent on SP's organisational support and ground presence in the state.
The Congress party responded swiftly to the claim, rejecting the characterisation of its electoral fortunes. The exchange reflects underlying tensions within the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh, a politically crucial state that has traditionally been contested between the SP and BJP.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav subsequently intervened in the matter, seeking to manage the public dispute between the allied partners. The intervention underscores the fragility of opposition unity in the state ahead of future electoral contests.
The seat-sharing arrangement between SP and Congress remains a contentious issue, with both parties keen to maximise their respective gains while maintaining the broader anti-BJP alliance in Uttar Pradesh.