'Who asked for 150 seats? I spoke about 200': Rajendra Pal Gautam on UP 2027
UP Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam demands equal respect and 200 seats in the Congress-SP alliance for the 2027 Assembly elections.
In a significant development regarding the political landscape of Uttar Pradesh, the Congress party has signaled its intent to demand a much larger share in the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections. Rajendra Pal Gautam, the Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge, clarified that the party is not looking for a minor role in the alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP) but is instead pushing for a substantial presence.
Addressing the media, Gautam corrected previous notions regarding the party's demands, stating that the Congress is aiming for 200 seats rather than the 150 seats previously discussed. He emphasized that the party's core requirement is "equal respect and an equal share" in the seat-sharing arrangement.
Demanding Equal Respect and Share
Gautam highlighted the historical significance of his party to justify this demand. "I have maintained from the very beginning that there must be equal respect and an equal share. After all, the Congress party is the country's oldest and largest party," he remarked.
He stressed that for the Congress to be a winning force in the state, it must be allowed to contest effectively. "We can only win if we get seats. We can only win if we contest the election. Does anyone ever win without fighting elections?" he questioned, underscoring the necessity of a strong electoral footprint.
Preparations for 2027 Underway
The Congress is not merely waiting for alliance talks; it is actively building its machinery across the state. Gautam revealed that the party has already begun strengthening its organizational structure across all 403 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. Key updates on their internal preparations include:
- Grassroots Presence: The party claims to have established a presence in every single village in the state.
- Organizational Restructuring: District and city units are expected to be finalized by the end of this week.
- State-Level Leadership: A new state-level body is slated to be announced within the coming days.
Gautam expressed a sense of urgency regarding the alliance talks, suggesting that the seat-sharing agreement between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party should ideally be finalized within October. This timeline would allow candidates sufficient time to engage in groundwork before the polls.
Flexibility and the 'Rahul Gandhi Factor'
While being firm on the number of seats, Gautam noted that the Congress remains open to negotiation. He used a striking metaphor to describe their approach: "When it comes to seat sharing, we are as flexible as the Constitution of India. If we have to bend a little, we will bend."
The Congress leader also took a moment to analyze the Samajwadi Party's recent performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where they secured 37 seats. He pointed out that even during the era when Mulayam Singh Yadav led a full-fledged government, the party's seat tally was not as high. He attributed the SP's recent success to the campaign led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
According to Gautam, the surge was driven by Rahul Gandhi's advocacy for social justice and his symbolic defense of the Constitution. He noted that the alliance's strength lies in the mutual respect between the two primary pillars of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh—the Congress and the Samajwadi Party—and that both must move forward together to achieve their goals.