Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav said on Saturday that Congress has asked for 181 of the 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh (UP) assembly election.
He made the remark at a leadership summit in Delhi.
The figure did not come from an official Congress statement. Yadav gave it while answering questions about his ally's demand.
The assembly polls are due in early 2027. Both the SP and Congress want to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Key points
- Yadav hinted that Congress wants 181 of the 403 seats in UP.
- He said the SP has already decided how many seats it will contest.
- The UP assembly polls are due in early 2027.
- The SP plans to release its manifesto on November 26.
So what exactly did Akhilesh Yadav say?
He was first asked whether Congress wanted 100 seats. Yadav said the party had asked for more than that.
When asked about 200, he said it was a little less. When 180 was suggested, he replied, "Add one."
That points to 181 seats.
He also said the SP and the INDIA alliance, the group of opposition parties, would defeat the BJP together.
Why does this seat number matter for UP?
Congress has been out of power in Uttar Pradesh since 1989. So its performance with the SP is closely watched.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the national Parliament election, the Congress-SP alliance won 43 of the 80 seats in the state.
The BJP's tally fell from 62 to 33.
In the 2022 assembly polls, Congress fought alone and won just two seats. The SP won 111 seats.
So how does this affect you as a voter? Seat sharing decides which party fights in your constituency.
That shapes the candidates you will see on your ballot.
What happens next before the 2027 polls?
The SP will release its manifesto, called the Jan-Man Manifesto, on November 26. That day is Constitution Day.
Yadav also said that alleged theft of donations made to the Ram temple in Ayodhya would be a major poll issue.
He made this allegation while criticising the BJP government.
A senior SP leader said Yadav would visit Ayodhya on December 12. Yadav said he would first visit Kedareshwar Dham in Etawah.
- November 26SP to release its Jan-Man Manifesto, on Constitution Day
- December 12Akhilesh Yadav to visit Ayodhya; he will first visit Kedareshwar Dham in Etawah
- Early 2027UP assembly election due, with SP and Congress aiming to defeat the BJP
Graphic: News Anek, from the facts in this report
Sources
- Hindustan Times: HT Exclusive: 'Add one to 180', says Akhilesh Yadav on ally Congress's seat demand for UP assembly polls
- Hindustan Times: HT Evening News Brief Nov 14: Akhilesh Yadav on Congress’s 181-seat demand ahead of UP polls; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi becomes youngest T20 captain
- The New Indian Express: 181 seats and counting? Akhilesh Yadav hints at Congress' big ask for UP polls
