From Congress bastion, Akhilesh sets alliance terms: Seats based on who can win

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav launched his party's Uttar Pradesh state election campaign from Raebareli, his alliance partner Rahul Gandhi's constituency. He clarified that while the electoral partnership with the Congress would persist, seat allocation would be determined by "winnability." Akhilesh emphasized that the focus would be on seats where candidates could win, not just the number of seats.

The alliance with Congress improved their 2024 Lok Sabha performance compared to their 2022 Assembly poll results when they contested separately. He framed the election as a contest between the BJP and his party's PDA, which includes backward communities, Dalits, and minorities. Akhilesh vowed to ensure justice for members of these communities, alleging selective targeting through administrative actions.

He also criticized the BJP for alleged demolition of religious structures in Kashi and Saharanpur, accusing it of pursuing communal politics. The SP chief sought to link the 2027 Assembly polls with the party's 2024 Lok Sabha victory, asserting that the SP would work for the BJP's "permanent defeat." He further accused the Election Commission of facilitating vote theft in the 2022 polls and alleged that the BJP was using the electoral machinery due to its unpopularity.