Following a strong performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections, where the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Congress alliance won a total of 43 out of 80 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, the two parties are now facing a significant roadblock in seat-sharing negotiations for the anticipated ten Assembly bypolls. According to Indian Express sources from both parties, the contention revolves around three key seats: Meerapur, Phulpur, and Majhawan.
Claims and Counterclaims Over Key Constituencies
As the Congress prepares for the upcoming bypolls, party insiders indicated that they are eyeing the Meerapur Assembly seat in western Uttar Pradesh, as well as Phulpur and Majhawan in the eastern region. While Congress has begun mobilizing resources across all ten seats, they are reportedly not exerting pressure on five constituencies—Karhal, Kundarki, Sisamau, Milkipur, and Katheri—that the SP won in the 2022 elections.
In a strategic move, the SP has expressed willingness to relinquish the Ghaziabad and Khair seats to Congress, but the contention over Meerapur, Phulpur, and Majhawan remains unresolved. A Congress leader highlighted the importance of Meerapur, citing its significant minority and Dalit populations, stating, “Winning the bypoll here would prove to be an advantage for any party in the 2027 Assembly polls,” as reported by The Indian Express.
Conversely, an SP leader from Muzaffarnagar refuted the Congress claims, asserting that the party is prepared to announce candidates as soon as the bypoll dates are confirmed. They emphasized that RLD MLA Chandan Chauhan, who vacated the Meerapur seat after winning the Bijnor Lok Sabha seat, benefited from SP’s backing in consolidating minority and Jat votes during the previous elections.
Implications for the Upcoming Bypolls
The bypoll in Phulpur arises from the recent victory of BJP MLA Praveen Singh Patel in the Lok Sabha elections. SP leaders are advocating for their claim to the seat based on historical performance, while Congress seeks to revive its voter base. Notably, SP’s M M Siddiqui lost to Patel in the 2022 Assembly polls by a narrow margin of just 2,700 votes.
An SP official mentioned that Congress’s increasing ambition might complicate the alliance further, stating, “The call (on the alliance) will be taken by the national leadership of both parties.” In contrast, Congress sources are optimistic, asserting that minority communities are rallying behind them and that their chances of securing Phulpur are higher than SP’s this time .
Majhawan and Its Political Dynamics
Majhawan, a seat with a considerable Dalit population, was previously held by NISHAD Party’s Vinod Kumar Bind, who left to join the BJP after winning the Bhadohi Lok Sabha seat. Both Congress and SP are now vying for this constituency, eyeing the BSP’s vote bank. The SP claims that the induction of former MLA Ramesh Chand Bind has strengthened their position, labeling Majhawan as a “safe seat” for the party .
As the political landscape in Uttar Pradesh evolves, the resolution of these disputes will be critical for both the SP and Congress, especially with the bypolls looming on the horizon. The outcome of this seat-sharing negotiation will not only impact the upcoming elections but may also shape the political strategies of both parties in the lead-up to the 2027 Assembly polls .