NEW DELHI : The INDIA bloc received another blow today though not an unexpected one as the Samajwadi Party (SP) released a list of 16 candidates for the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh amid seat-sharing talks with the Congress. The announcement came a day after Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav said the party had set aside 11 seats for its INDIA bloc ally Congress.
Mr Yadav issued a list of 16 candidates, sending a message to the Congress that if they want alliance in UP, they have to agree on what the Samajwadi Party offers. It is a clear indication that in UP, the Samajwadi Party will take decisions in the alliance in its own way.
In a decisive move gearing up for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party (SP) declared its list of 16 candidates. Among the candidates named today is Dimple Yadav, the wife of the SP chief, who will be contesting from family bastion Mainpuri.
The announcement comes after a period of speculation and uncertainty within the SP ranks. Earlier delays in candidate declarations had raised concerns among party members. However, with this unveiling, the SP aims to consolidate its position and pave the way for an assertive electoral campaign.The announcement of the names comes after Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that seat-sharing talks with the Congress for 11 constituencies were off to a “promising start”. It is still unclear which seats were discussed between the two parties.
The Samajwadi Party, which is the strongest I.N.D.I.A constituent in Uttar Pradesh, had a rocky start in the alliance with the Congress. However, after multiple rounds of meetings, the two parties seem to be working on a solution for the issue of seat sharing.
Mr Yadav sending a message to the Congress that if they want alliance in UP, they have to agree on what the Samajwadi Party offers. It is a clear indication that in UP, the Samajwadi Party will take decisions in the alliance in its own way. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav made it clear that his party will do what it thinks is best and no clearance from the Congress is needed.
Mamata Banerjee has refused to share no more than two seats in Bengal, and in view of the Congress’s ambition for more, asked the party to introspect on its results. A similar point was made earlier by Akhilesh Yadav.
In 2019, the Congress had won 44 seats — very few of them in in the northeast or the Hindi belt. In Uttar Pradesh, it won only one seat, Raebareli, as Rahul Gandhi lost to Smriti Irani in Amethi
Under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, the party unveiled a diverse list featuring both seasoned stalwarts and emerging leaders. Dimple Yadav, a prominent figure in the SP and the wife of party’s national president Akhilesh Yadav, has been given ticket for the Mainpuri constituency, reinforcing the party’s influence in the region. Additionally, two family members – Akshay Yadav will vie for the Firozabad seat, while Dharmendra Yadav to contest from Badaun parliamentary constituency.According to the sources, UP Congress is not happy with the SP’s candidate list as it includes Farrukhabad and Dhaurara constituencies which the grand old party considers as its strong bastion. Farrukhabad has been the traditional seat of senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid.
In 80-seat Uttar Pradesh, Mr Yadav has offered the Congress 11 seats. In 2019, in alliance with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party had not contested from Amethi and Rae Bareli as a gesture of courtesy.
Uttar Pradesh sends the highest number of members to Lok Sabha Hence, this will be a crucial state for the I.N.D.I.A bloc which wants to unseat the BJP. Uuiiii
The Congress has been rebuffed by Mamata Banerjee in Bengal and AAP’s Bhagwant Mann in Punjab in terms of seat sharing. The whole Opposition has been jilted by NItish Kumar, who defected and took oath as the Bihar Chief Minister for the ninth time on Sunday, to head an alliance government with the BJP.
In 80-seat Uttar Pradesh, Mr Yadav has offered the Congress 11 seats. In 2019, in alliance with Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party, the Samajwadi Party had not contested from Amethi and Rae Bareli as a gesture of courtesy.
(With Inputs from Lucknow Bureau).

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