Shillong, September 24: The unity of the INDIA alliance faces a significant test as the issue of seat allocation looms large in the upcoming assembly elections across five states.
As per IANS, the Samajwadi Party (SP) is actively striving to extend its influence into several states with the aim of achieving national party status. However, the cooperation of the Congress party with the SP appears uncertain at this juncture.
Political analysts posit that the SP’s pursuit of national recognition may lead it to participate in assembly elections in states beyond its stronghold of Uttar Pradesh. Notably, the SP is gearing up for intensive electoral campaigns in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, in addition to its home state.
In this context, a crucial question emerges: will the Congress accord any significance to the SP when it comes to distributing seats for the impending elections in these states? This challenge extends the test of unity beyond general elections to encompass assembly elections as well.
In Madhya Pradesh, the SP has declared its intention to contest on all 230 seats. Ramayan Patel, the SP State President, affirms their party’s vigorous participation in the upcoming assembly elections. They have already unveiled candidates for seven seats and are fully prepared to contest all of them.
Ramayan Patel states, “Our poll preparations are in full swing for all seats. The decision regarding an alliance with Congress will rest with Akhilesh Yadav. We have organizational units in every district, along with legislative assembly coordinators in all districts. We have already declared candidates in Sidhi, Rewa, Datia, Singrauli, Chhatarpur, and Bhind districts.”
In Chhattisgarh, SP Chhattisgarh President Navin Gupta underscores the party’s strength within the state as they prepare to contest elections in 40 seats. The decision regarding an alliance with the Congress will be made by the national leadership, with the national president scheduled to campaign in the state on October 15.
A senior SP leader expresses their commitment to ensuring opposition unity in assembly elections, urging the Congress to support the SP where it holds power. Notably, the SP had previously secured seven seats in the 2003 Madhya Pradesh assembly elections out of the 161 seats they contested.
As the INDIA alliance grapples with these challenges, the future of their unity in both assembly and Lok Sabha elections remains uncertain. Should an agreement not be reached for the assembly elections, it could potentially impact their viability as an alternative to the BJP in the eyes of the public, warns political analyst Yogesh Mishra.