Akhilesh Yadav says Congress wants 181 seats for Uttar Pradesh assembly polls

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav announced that the Congress has expressed its wish to contest 181 seats in the upcoming 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Speaking at a summit in Delhi, Mr. Yadav stated that the INDIA bloc will remain united to defeat the ruling BJP in the state. He clarified that the alliance remains the same as before and confirmed that his party has already decided how many seats it will contest.

Election Issues And Alliances

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister stated that the alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya will be a major poll issue. He criticized the state government over this incident, claiming that offerings made by crores of devotees were stolen. Addressing potential alliances, Mr. Yadav dismissed the possibility of partnering with Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati while already part of an existing coalition. He highlighted the SP's experience with alliances and noted that voters are coming together under the PDA umbrella of backward communities, Dalits, and minorities.

Governance Criticisms

Mr. Yadav criticized the state administration over governance, alleging that more than 20 competitive examination papers have been leaked in the state. He also raised concerns about the 69,000 assistant teachers' recruitment, claiming that candidates are being denied their reservation rights. Additional criticisms targeted the Agniveer recruitment scheme for reducing employment opportunities, alongside allegations of fake police encounters, infrastructure corruption, and unfulfilled job promises.

Context

Uttar Pradesh has a 403-seat assembly and plays a major role in national politics. State elections in the region often involve multi-party coalitions competing against the ruling party.