Salempur Lok Sabha MP Ramashankar Rajbhar 'Vidyarthi' on Saturday claimed that the seat-sharing formula for the INDIA bloc has been finalised. The Samajwadi Party MP said his party’s election manifesto will be released on Monday, November 26.
"The Samajwadi Party will contest the seats it is capable of winning, and the Congress will contest the seats where it has a strong chance of victory. In this election, the specific number of seats does not matter; what matters is winning."
Regarding the Samajwadi Party's election manifesto, Rajbhar said, "It will be released on November 26, and all preparations for it are complete." He added that the manifesto would address the pressing issues faced by the general public.
"Our formula is set. It is a single, unified formula—one designed to ensure victory for the INDIA bloc,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.
When asked about the claims made by Congress leaders for more than 175 seats, Rajbhar said, "Everyone has the right to stake a claim. Ultimately, the seats for the INDIA bloc will be determined by the top leadership of both parties."
The Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are due to take place in early 2027. The state has 403 Assembly constituencies.
The remarks by Rajbhar came a day after Congress' Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam told PTI that the list was shared with Samajwadi Party leaders a couple of days ago, and that leaders of the two parties will soon discuss the seat-sharing arrangements in detail.
"I can't give you the exact numbers, but we have submitted a list for 175 to 200 seats," Gautam told PTI on Friday, hinting that the party is open to negotiations ahead of polls to the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly.
The leadership of both parties will sit together to chalk out the nitty-gritty of the seat-sharing arrangements, Gautam said.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said that the collective goal is to remove the BJP from power and that the alliance will move forward effectively.
Speaking to reporters in Lucknow on Friday, he said, "The Congress, the Samajwadi Party, and the INDIA bloc must be strengthened. Our collective goal is to see that the BJP is removed. To ensure the ouster of the BJP, we will make people understand, and we will do so. The alliance will move forward effectively to defeat the BJP."
The 2027 contest is shaping up primarily between the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Samajwadi Party-led Opposition, with the Congress seeking a substantial share of seats in a renewed alliance.
Smaller NDA allies, including the Apna Dal (S) and the Nishad Party, could play supporting roles.
The BSP remains a separate factor in Uttar Pradesh, where seat-sharing and caste equations will influence the contest.
