Congress-SP finalise UP seat-sharing pact: How Priyanka Gandhi played a key role in breaking the deadlock

congress-sp finalise up seat-sharing pact: how priyanka gandhi played a key role in breaking the deadlock

NEW DELHI: In a crucial breakthrough for the opposition bloc INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), the Congress and the Samajwadi Party on Wednesday finally announced seat-sharing pact for Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The negotiations, which had started almost a month back, had hit a dead end as both sides were not ready to compromise on the number of seats. According to reports, Samajwadi Party had initially offered 11 seats to the Congress, which was rejected by the grand old party. Akhilesh later raised the offering to 17 seats. However, the Congress wanted three more. Also, the two parties had differences over some specific seats which both the parties wanted.

Akhilesh Yadav, who had hardened his stand vis-à-vis the Congress in the last two days and had refused to join Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, softened his stand today and signalled that the alliance was on the right track. He also said there was no conflict with the grand old party over seat sharing.

So, what changed in 24 hours.

According to Congress, it was party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who played a crucial role in breaking the deadlock. While announcing the seat-sharing details, Congress UP incharge Avinash Pande made a special mention of Priyanka’s role in reaching a consensus.

Congress sources said Priyanka Gandhi spoke with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav over phone on Wednesday to iron out differences between the two parties. The phone call helped not just seal the deal but also ensured that Congress got a fair deal in the form of some important seats that it wanted, the sources added.

The last time the two parties contested together in Uttar Pradesh was in 2017 when Akhilesh and Rahul had campaigned together for the assembly elections. However, the alliance failed to woo voters and BJP managed a huge victory. The two parties later parted ways and in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections Samajwadi Party joined hands with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party. The BSP alliance also did not work for the SP as it could win only 5 Lok Sabha seats, while the BSP bagged 10.

The Congress, on the other hand, has been struggling to regain its base in the politically-crucial state. In the last assembly elections, the Congress could win just one seat. This, despite the fact that Priyanka Gandhi led the party campaign. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections also, the party could win only the Rae Bareli seat which is represented by Sonia Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi’s defeat at the hands of BJP’s Smriti Irani in Congress bastion of Amethi represented a new low in Congress’s electoral performance in the state.

Both the Congress and the SP would hope that their alliance succeeds this time. More so, as the BJP is going all out to increase its tally from 62 Lok Sabha seats that it had won in 2019 elections.

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