The unity of INDIA bloc faces another test due to seat allocation between the alliance partners in the upcoming assembly elections in five states. The Samajwadi Party (SP) is seeking ground in several states to attain national party status. The SP is planning to contest in the assembly elections in other states to achieve national recognition. The party is also intensively preparing for assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, in addition to Uttar Pradesh. The party contended that its organisation is active on the ground in these states.
In such a situation, it remains to be seen whether Congress will give any importance to SP in seat distribution in these states for the upcoming elections. The test for the India alliance now will not be only for general elections but for assembly elections too. In Madhya Pradesh, SP is preparing to contest on all 230 seats. The party has already announced candidates for seven seats and are prepared to contest all of them. In Chhattisgarh, the SP which claimed that its organisation is strong in the state is now preparing to contest elections in 40 seats.
In 2003, the SP had won seven seats in the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections. SP had fielded candidates on 161 seats out of 230, winning 7 of them. As for Chhattisgarh, SP has been contesting elections since 2003, and its candidates were also in the field in 2018. So, the party has a presence there too. In Rajasthan, the SP may contest elections on some seats to expand their organisation. Alwar and some other constituencies have a substantial backward class voter base, including Yadav voters.
Following the recent results of assembly by-elections, Uttar Pradesh Congress President Ajay Rai said in a statement that Congress had helped SP win in Ghosi, but in Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, the SP had fielded a candidate against the Congress candidate. SP chief spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary responded by saying that no Congress leader had spoken to Akhilesh Yadav when SP sought support in Ghosi. In a democracy, any party can contest from anywhere but unless there is seat sharing, INDIA’s unity idea may not work.
As for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, there is no such understanding between Congress and SP in these states. The Congress sees SP only as a regional party in Uttar Pradesh. But SP also wants to expand its party nationally. So far, there has been no discussion between SP and Congress. But Akhilesh Yadav does not want to hide his ambition. He wants to establish his party beyond the borders of Uttar Pradesh. If the INDIA bloc does not reach an agreement in the assembly elections, then it will have an impact in the Lok Sabha elections as well. The opposition unity therefore should first be reflected in the assembly elections.
