The highly anticipated alliance between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls has reportedly collapsed, sources disclosed. Negotiations, which extended into the late hours of Monday night, hit an impasse primarily over the allocation of three pivotal seats within the Moradabad division.
This breakdown comes on the heels of SP chief Akhilesh Yadav's adamant stance that his party would refrain from participating in Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra until a concrete seat-sharing arrangement with the Congress materialized.
Despite protracted deliberations and apparent mutual willingness to find common ground on most constituencies, discussions hit an insurmountable snag concerning Moradabad, with neither party willing to cede ground.
In addition to Moradabad, the Congress also sought the Bijnor seat from the Samajwadi Party, yet the latter remained steadfast in its refusal to yield either Moradabad or Bijnor, leading to an impasse that ultimately derailed the potential alliance.
Contrary to reports of a breakdown in talks with the SP, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal refuted such claims, asserting, "Our alliance with SP remains intact. We are in the final stages of negotiations regarding seat sharing. An announcement will be forthcoming in a few days."
Earlier on Monday, Akhilesh Yadav's party had tabled a "final offer" of 17 Lok Sabha seats to the Congress, omitting the contentious ones. This followed an initial offer of 11 seats, which the Congress rejected, insisting on a more favorable allocation.
Sources revealed that the agreed-upon seats included several high-profile constituencies such as Amethi, Rae Bareli, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and others. However, SP's steadfast refusal to relinquish control over Ballia, Moradabad, and Bijnor proved to be the deal-breaker.
When questioned about the apparent deadlock in seat-sharing talks with the Congress, Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav remained reticent, stating, "Senior leaders are currently in discussion. If any developments arise, they will be communicated accordingly. I am currently in Mainpuri and unaware of the decision regarding Akhilesh's potential participation in Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra."
The collapse of the proposed alliance represents yet another setback for the INDIA bloc, which seeks to unify opposition parties into a cohesive front to challenge the ruling BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In preparation for the polls, the SP unveiled its first list of candidates for 16 Lok Sabha seats back in January, followed by an additional 11 candidates announced on Monday.
The electoral landscape in Uttar Pradesh has been historically dominated by the BJP, which secured a significant victory in the 2019 polls, capturing 62 out of the state's 80 Lok Sabha seats. The SP and BSP, in a pre-poll alliance, managed to secure 15 seats collectively, while the Congress, contesting independently, secured only one seat.
