Uttar Pradesh’s minor parties shift to Congress, seek seats in SP-led alliance

Several regional parties in Uttar Pradesh have recently aligned themselves with the Indian National Congress, signalling a strategic shift ahead of the state elections. The move is aimed at tapping into the portion of assembly seats that Congress is allotted as part of the Samajwadi Party‑led Mahagathbandhan.

Congress, a key partner in the SP‑led alliance, holds a defined share of contesting seats across the state. The smaller parties are seeking to obtain ticket allocations from this share, hoping to increase their legislative presence without directly contesting against the alliance’s larger constituents.

Political analysts note that the realignment could consolidate anti‑incumbent votes and reshape the seat‑sharing dynamics within the coalition. The exact number of seats being negotiated remains undisclosed, but the parties involved are expected to finalize arrangements before the official candidate list is announced.