Congress Secures Raebareli, Amethi, Varanasi In 17-Seat Pact With Akhilesh Yadav In UP
Congress and the Samajwadi Party leadership have finalized an agreement for Congress to contest 17 seats in Uttar Pradesh, indicating that the Samajwadi Party will not field candidates in these constituencies. This decision has sparked speculation once again about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra possibly making her electoral debut from Rae Bareli, a Congress stronghold. With Sonia Gandhi transitioning to the Rajya Sabha, Rae Bareli's significance for the Congress is evident, and ensuring no SP candidate in the fray could be a strategic move to safeguard the party's interests in the region.
#WATCH | Lucknow, UP: On the seat-sharing arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, Congress Uttar Pradesh in-charge Avinash Pande says, " This is a moment of happiness where the decision taken by both the parties INC and Samajwadi Party together, is very important for the future of Uttar… pic.twitter.com/9CLw9PZVBu
— ANI (@ANI) February 21, 2024
Rae Bareli, Amethi, and Varanasi are three significant constituencies that Akhilesh Yadav has conceded to the Congress. Varanasi holds importance as the Lok Sabha constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while Amethi gained attention when Rahul Gandhi lost it to BJP's Smriti Irani in the 2019 elections. Rae Bareli, formerly held by Sonia Gandhi until she stepped down for health reasons and moved to the Rajya Sabha, is another key seat in this arrangement.
Also Read: Farmers Protest 2024: From Internet Ban To Traffic Advisory For Delhi, Here Are 10 Key Takeaways
The seat-sharing negotiations within the INDIA bloc faced a stalemate due to the presence of AAP in Punjab and Delhi, and Trinamool Congress aligning with the Congress. Initially, Akhilesh Yadav offered 11 seats, which later increased to 15, and finally, the final offer stood at 17 seats. However, Akhilesh firmly insisted on the 17-seat arrangement and declared that he would participate in Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra only after the Congress finalized the deal.
Insiders suggest that the initial offer extended to the Congress lacked appeal, with seats where the chances of winning were slim. However, a pivotal telephone conversation between Akhilesh Yadav and Priyanka Gandhi facilitated the agreement. As a result, the Congress secured Sitapur and Barabanki. In the Moradabad division, although the Congress initially sought two seats, it eventually settled for Amroha alone.
