- By Shubham Kumar
- Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:27 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Rahul-Akhilesh alliance eyes 2027 UP Assembly elections.
- Seat-sharing disputes emerged between Congress and SP in past.
- Past alliance issues highlight need for "big heart".
The election results in Uttar Pradesh, the country's largest state, surprised everyone in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Political pundits believe that the duo of two boys from the state (UP Ke Do Ladake - a slogan used in UP polls), Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, played a major role in these surprising results. These two boys from UP came together and dealt a significant blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party's decade-long dominance by winning 43 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
What Does The Camaraderie Mean Now?
Although that was in 2024, and the results were in the Lok Sabha elections, this is now 2026, and all eyes are on the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections to be held next year. The questions and answers and the big-heartedness surrounding seat-sharing are also being discussed because the Congress and Samajwadi Party are once again seen together ahead of next year's assembly elections. But the question arises: who will show the "big heart" in the seat-sharing tussle before the actual electoral battle begins?
The Question Of 'Big Heart' In Allies
The entire tussle can be traced back to a meeting held after the 2024 elections. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had advised the Congress party that the national party should show a big heart and adopt a flexible approach in states dominated by regional parties.
In response, Gandhi clarified that his goal was not to fight with allies, but to work together. However, at the grassroots level, many local UP Congress leaders are taking a different stance.
Congress's Claims And SP's Stance
Amidst the political confusion and questioning, Congress's claim has now emerged. State-level Congress leaders are demanding a 50-50 per cent seat share based on "equality and respect." They argue that the SP's significant lead in 2024 was due to Congress's national support base and Rahul Gandhi's image.
However, the Samajwadi Party believes that since it is the main opposition party in the state and a major contender to form the government in 2027, it would be pragmatic to contest more seats.
Past Seat-Sharing Experiences
Congress's lack of coordination among its regional allies regarding seat-sharing is nothing new. Negative consequences have been observed in several states in recent times. For example, alliance talks between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress in Haryana were inconclusive. Contesting the elections separately divided the opposition vote, allowing the BJP to form a third term in government. Subsequently, the delay in reaching an agreement between the RJD and the Congress in Bihar impacted the "Grand Alliance"'s election preparations.
A similar situation prevailed in Madhya Pradesh. The verbal war between Kamal Nath and Akhilesh Yadav during the last assembly elections dealt a major blow to the alliance's prospects, which was later resolved with the intervention of the central leadership.
Looking at the political mathematics of Uttar Pradesh, both parties have their own arguments. Understand it this way:
Gandhi-Yadav's Tuning Is Not Enough
It goes without saying that the coordination and closeness between Gandhi and Yadav is clearly visible from Parliament to the streets. Whether it's the NEET issue or the strategy in the Parliament complex, both leaders have been seen standing together. But the real challenge is to unite the state-level workers and leaders.
The differences in Uttar Pradesh will also pose a challenge for the Samajwadi Party and the Congress, as both parties will need to reach a workable agreement to present a strong alternative to the BJP in the state. If acrimony over seat-sharing increases, it could send a message of discord among voters, as was seen in Bihar and Haryana. Therefore, it would not be wrong to say that the winner in Uttar Pradesh in 2027 will be the one who can demonstrate a "big heart" in placating their allies before the election begins.