The grand coalition of INDI Alliance appears to be breathing its last as the Samajwadi Party (SP) takes a bold step, releasing a list of 16 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections while engaged in seat-sharing discussions with the Congress. SP leader Akhilesh Yadav has made it clear that his party will make independent decisions without seeking approval from the Congress, stressing the importance of acting in the best interest of the SP.
Notable names in the candidate list include Dimple Yadav, wife of Akhilesh Yadav, contesting from Mainpuri, and Akshay Yadav from Firozabad. The SP’s move seems to signal a departure from the collaborative spirit of the INDI Alliance, with a statement, “Hoga PDA ke naam, abki ekjut matdan” (This is for the people’s alliance, vote united this time). In the current Lok Sabha, the SP, which previously allied with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in 2019, holds three seats, while the BSP has 10. Sonia Gandhi, representing Rae Bareli, is the sole Congress MP from the state.
Earlier, on January 19, the SP and RLD had announced their alliance, with the SP conceding seven seats in western Uttar Pradesh to the RLD. The SP has offered 11 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh to the Congress. This development underscores a significant fracture in the INDI Alliance and raises questions about the future dynamics among the opposition parties.
On the other hand, Samajwadi Party (SP) president and former U.P. Chief Minister, Akhilesh Yadav, had expressed optimism on Saturday about the “alliance” between SP and the Congress in the state. Both parties are integral members of the INDI alliance, formed to counter the BJP-led NDA.
Akhilesh Yadav stated, “Our cordial alliance with the Congress is off to a good start with 11 strong seats. This trend will move forward with the winning equation. ‘INDIA’ team and ‘PDA’ (Picchda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy will change history,” in a post on X. Despite this positive outlook, recent developments, such as the SP releasing a list of candidates independently, suggest potential strains within the INDI Alliance, adding an element of uncertainty to the political landscape.
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