UP Bypolls: Congress Agrees To Contest In Alliance With SP, Ajay Rai Says 'Have Only One Goal...'

The Congress had expressed displeasure over the SP releasing its candidates list for seven out of the nine seats up for grabs, despite Congress insisting to contest a minimum of five seats.

Congress leader Ajay Rai stated that the party will contest the Uttar Pradesh bypolls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party.

Source : PTI

Uttar Pradesh Bypolls: Congress UP President Ajay Rai on Tuesday said that the grand old party will contest the UP bypolls in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, irrespective of the outcome of seat-sharing talks between the two parties. His statement came a day after he asked Akhilesh Yadav's party to follow the coalition dharma and stated sternly that the Congress wouldn't contest the UP bypolls unless its demand for five seats is met.

The Congress had expressed displeasure over the SP releasing its candidates list for seven out of the nine seats up for grabs, despite Congress insisting to contest five seats. Now, the Congress has reportedly agreed to contest just two seats, giving the rest to the SP.

The Election Commission had announced byelections on nine seats, skipping the Milkipur seat (Ayodhya). The last date for filing nominations is October 25. The bypolls will be held on November 13.

"Irrespective of the outcome of the seat-sharing talks with SP, INDIA bloc will contest bypolls unitedly," UP Congress president Ajay Rai told news agency PTI.

The SP had already declared candidates for seven seats, including Sisamau, Karhal, Phulpur, Katehari, Milkipur, Majahawan, and Meerapur. "Our agreement is final with the Congress. Of the 10 seats, the Congress will contest on two, Khair (Aligarh) and Ghaziabad, while on the rest eight, the SP will contest," SP Spokesperson Rajendra Chowdhury had told PTI.

'Committed To Fighting Together & Defeating BJP': Ajay Rai

Earlier today, Rai said that Congress and SP's goal is to defeat the BJP and overthrow the government that is involved in carrying out "fake encounters".

"We have only one goal to remove this government that instigates riots and carries out fake encounters. We are committed to fighting together and defeating them," Rai told news agency IANS.

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh: Congress State President Ajay Rai says, "We have only one goal to remove this government that instigates riots and carries out fake encounters. We are committed to fighting together and defeating them" pic.twitter.com/WwqfFMpnfJ

— IANS (@ians_india) October 22, 2024

On October 21, the Congress UP unit chief had said that the Congress-SP alliance will end BJP's jungle raj in the state. 

"In the by-elections, Congress will fight unitedly as a coalition. The goal of the SP-Congress alliance is to defeat the BJP and end the jungle raj. The BJP is anti-farmer and anti-women, tormenting the common people and exploiting the poor, Scheduled Castes, and minorities," he said. 

Mahoba, UP: On the Uttar Pradesh by-election, Congress State President Ajay Rai says, "In the by-elections, Congress will fight unitedly as a coalition. The goal of the SP-Congress alliance is to defeat the BJP and end the jungle raj. The BJP is anti-farmer and anti-women,… pic.twitter.com/pttjxLIOyv

— IANS (@ians_india) October 21, 2024

Bypolls in UP are scheduled to be held at nine assembly seats. These include -- Katehari (Ambedkar Nagar), Meerapur (Muzaffarnagar), Karhal (Mainpuri),  Ghaziabad, Majhawan (Mirzapur), Khair (Aligarh), Sisamau (Kanpur city), Phulpur (Prayagraj), and Kundarki (Moradabad).

Out of these 10 seats, nine fell vacant after their MLAs were elected as MPs in the Lok Sabha elections earlier this year, while in the Sisamau seat, bypolls are being held due to the disqualification of SP MLA Irfan Solanki, who was convicted in a criminal case.