The by-elections for 9 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh are scheduled for November 13. Late Wednesday night, Akhilesh Yadav made a significant declaration, stating that the alliance's candidates will contest all 9 seats under the SP symbol. Akhilesh Yadav announced this through a detailed post on social media platform X. This announcement holds importance as there's been a long-standing tug-of-war over seat-sharing between Congress and SP. So, what does Akhilesh Yadav's announcement actually mean?
Significance of Akhilesh Yadav's Announcement
There was speculation that the Congress party refused to contest the by-elections due to unsatisfactory seat allotments. According to sources, the Congress party didn’t want to risk losing seats. Akhilesh Yadav had designated the Ghaziabad and Khair seats for Congress, seats perceived as difficult to win since BJP has been securing victories there consistently over the past few elections.
Sources suggest that this was a face-saving strategy for the Congress party, allowing them to maintain their dignity without actually contesting. The Congress party knew that Ghaziabad Sadar and Khair were the most challenging seats and that’s why the Samajwadi Party left these seats for Congress to attempt.
Recognizing the odds, the Congress party decided it's better to leave these seats to SP. The Congress state leadership had already hinted that they wouldn't contest if they didn't receive seats like Phulpur and Meerpur. Akhilesh Yadav refused to allocate these viable opposition seats to Congress.
In recent talks between Akhilesh Yadav and Congress, it was decided that the Congress party would not contest, and the SP would field candidates in all seats. Following this, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav shared a comprehensive post on X.
What Did Akhilesh Announce?
In his post, Akhilesh Yadav stated, "It’s not about the seat; it's about the victory." Under this strategy, joint candidates of the 'India Alliance' will contest all 9 seats on the Samajwadi Party's symbol, the 'cycle'. Congress and the Samajwadi Party stand united and shoulder to shoulder for a significant victory. The India Alliance aims to write a new chapter of victory in these by-elections. With top leadership from Congress to booth-level workers joining in, the Samajwadi Party's strength has multiplied manifold.
He further wrote, 'This is the election to protect the Constitution, harmony, and the honor of PDA. Hence, our most fervent appeal: No vote should be reduced, and no vote should be divided. The harmonious unity of the 'India Alliance' will make new history today and tomorrow.'
By-elections To Be Held on These 9 Seats
Initially, by-elections were to be held for 10 seats, including Karhal in Mainpuri, Sisamau in Kanpur, Phulpur in Prayagraj, Katehari in Ambedkarnagar, Majhwan in Mirzapur, Milkipur in Ayodhya, Ghaziabad Sadar, Khair in Aligarh, Meerpur in Muzaffarnagar, and Kundarki in Moradabad. However, by-elections have only been announced for 9 seats. The date for the Milkipur seat is yet to be declared.
