Following extensive deliberations spanning several months, the Congress and the Samajwadi Party have ultimately reached a consensus on their seat-sharing arrangement in Uttar Pradesh for the imminent Lok Sabha elections.
According to the terms of the seat-sharing pact, the Congress is slated to field candidates in 17 constituencies, while the Samajwadi Party, alongside its smaller allies, will vie for the remaining 63 seats.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, stating, "I am delighted to inform you that in Uttar Pradesh, the INC will be contesting in 17 constituencies, while the remaining 63 seats will be entrusted to candidates from the INDIA Alliance, representing the SP and other affiliated parties."
Under the provisions of the seat-sharing pact, the Congress has earmarked the following constituencies for its candidates:
1. Raebareli
2. Amethi
3. Kanpur
4. Fatehpur Sikri
5. Bans Ganv
6. Saharanpur
7. Prayagraj
8. Maharajganj
9. Varanasi
10. Amroha
11. Jhansi
12. Bulandshahr
13. Ghaziabad
14. Mathura
15. Sitapur
16. Barabanki
17. Deoria
It is worth noting that Raebareli and Amethi have traditionally been strongholds for the Congress. However, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Rahul Gandhi faced defeat at the hands of BJP's Smriti Irani in Amethi.
Following Sonia Gandhi's decision to vacate her post as the sitting Member of Parliament from Raebareli after her election to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan, speculation suggests that her daughter and Congress General Secretary, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, may potentially contest from Raebareli in the upcoming elections.
Furthermore, the Congress has opted to contest the Varanasi seat, which currently serves as the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
