HighLights
  1. Shivpal Yadav criticised Congress for campaigning in SP strongholds.
  2. He claimed Congress will not secure votes in Etawah, Mainpuri, Saifai.
  3. Tension rises between allies ahead of 2027 UP Assembly elections.

UP Assembly Election 2027: A fresh row has erupted after Samajwadi Party National General Secretary Shivpal Singh Yadav hit out at its alliance partner, Congress, over seat-sharing and campaigning. He claimed that Congress leaders are campaigning in Etawah, Mainpuri, and Saifai but will fail to secure votes there.

These areas serve as the family strongholds of SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh. Saifai is Mulayam Singh Yadav's ancestral village, and these remain traditional SP bases where Congress has historically held minimal influence.

The row began after Akhilesh Yadav kick-started his 'PDA Yatra' from Raebareli, a stronghold located within Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency.

In response to Akhilesh's visit, Congress State Chief Ajay Rai stated that anyone is free to visit any seat, adding that Congress leaders can similarly visit Kannauj and Etawah, which are strongholds of the Samajwadis.

Speaking on Friday, Rai said that people are free to travel anywhere in the country and noted that there was nothing wrong with Akhilesh Yadav visiting Rae Bareli. "We will also definitely visit Etawah, Kannauj, and Mainpuri in the coming days," he said.

Meanwhile, SP MP Iqra Hasan also claimed that Congress will not be able to achieve anything significant on its own.

ALSO READ: Tension In SP-Congress Alliance? Akhilesh Flexes Muscle In Raebareli; Ajai Rai Responds With 'Kannauj' Warning

What Shivpal Yadav Said

Samajwadi Party National General Secretary and Jaswantnagar MLA Shivpal Yadav launched a sharp counterattack against Congress leaders. He also criticised them for questioning Akhilesh Yadav's start of the PDA Rath Yatra from Rae Bareli and for campaigning in Saifai, Mainpuri, and Etawah.

Shivpal Yadav said, "Is anyone prohibited from going anywhere? Let them go and campaign; Congress will not get votes there. Congress will not get votes in our entire Jaswantnagar. We will again achieve a record victory in Jaswantnagar." Attacking the ruling BJP, he further added that the government has done no substantive work over the past 10 years.

ALSO READ: Samajwadi Party Dissolves Etah, Kasganj Units After Leaders Clash, Abuse In Front Of Akhilesh Yadav

These remarks come ahead of the upcoming Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The SP-Congress alliance previously outperformed the BJP by winning 43 out of 80 Lok Sabha seats in the state during the 2024 general polls, including a victory in Faizabad, where the Ram Mandir was built. Formal seat-sharing talks between Congress and the SP are expected to begin in the coming weeks, with the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections scheduled for early 2027.


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