In a significant update from Uttar Pradesh, Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav announced on Thursday that his party will maintain its alliance with Congress. This follows the SP’s decision to allocate tickets for six of the ten assembly seats in the upcoming bypolls.
Yadav made these remarks during a visit to Etawah, where he honored his father, the late Mulayam Singh Yadav, founder of the Samajwadi Party. He emphasized the stability of the INDIA bloc, stating, “I just want to emphasize that the INDIA bloc will remain. The alliance between SP and Congress will stay strong”.
However, he chose not to discuss ticket distribution details. Instead, he suggested that now is not the right time for political debates. When asked about the recent Haryana poll results, he simply said, “We will discuss this at our next meeting”.
Moreover, Yadav‘s announcement raises eyebrows and seems to subtly snub Congress, especially after their poor performances in Haryana. On Wednesday, the SP revealed its candidates for the bypolls, signaling a potential shift toward a more independent approach.
Additionally, Congress has pushed for five seats in the upcoming elections. They aim to regain ground lost to the BJP in these key constituencies.
The SP’s official candidate list includes several notable names. Tej Pratap Yadav will contest from Karhal, while Naseem Solanki will represent Sisamau. Mustafa Siddiqui will run in Phulpur, and Ajit Prasad will contest in Milkipur. Shobhawati Verma will represent Katehari, and Jyoti Bind will run in Majhwan.
After the announcement, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary clarified that Akhilesh Yadav will ultimately decide any seat-sharing arrangements with Congress.
In response, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai expressed his party’s intentions. He stated, “We have submitted a proposal to the high command regarding contesting 5 of the 10 seats. These were the seats previously won by the BJP“.
As the political landscape changes, the coming months will be critical for both parties. They must navigate their alliance carefully and strategize for the upcoming bypolls. The dynamics of this partnership will impact their electoral fortunes and set the tone for future collaborations in Uttar Pradesh politics.
Kolkata: On Friday, January 10, 2026, Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha members demonstrated against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her actions after the ED raids at the I-PAC office and its chief Pratik Jain's home. | In relation to an alleged coal smuggling case that stretches back a few years, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) searched the Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) office and Pratik Jain's home on Loudon Street in Kolkata on Thursday, January 8, 2025. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a protest against the ED raids on I-PAC after the raid set off a political storm in the state. Why is a chief minister endorsing Pratik Jain, and who is he? Pratik Jain, a political strategist and co-founder of I-PAC, is a graduate of IIT Bombay. He is credited with helping I-PAC grow into one of the most significant political consulting organizations in India. I-PAC was established in 2015 and offers services like data-driven campaign management, support for governance, and voter outreach initiatives. It has collaborated with a number of Indian political groups throughout the years, notably West Bengal's Trinamool Congress (TMC). I-PAC reportedly collaborates closely with Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, and his office. The company oversees the IT and media division of the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC and is in charge of creating its election campaigns. Mr. Jain was in charge of the Trinamool Congress's IT cell, according to Ms. Banerjee. According to his LinkedIn page, Jain, an engineering graduate from IIT Bombay, started his career as an analyst at the consulting firm Deloitte. He was one of the first members of Citizens of Accountable Governance, which later evolved into I-PAC. Arvind Kejriwal, M.K. Stalin, Jaganmohan Reddy, Uddhav Thackeray, Rahul Gandhi, and Nitish Kumar are just a few of the prominent figures with whom the political consultancy firm has collaborated.…
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