Lucknow: The SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh was formed for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, but its journey has been full of ups and downs so far. Signs of tension between the two parties started appearing during the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections in October 2023, when they contested separately. Nevertheless, in the Lok Sabha elections, both together won 43 seats in UP and left the BJP far behind. But even after this, the sourness in the alliance kept increasing. They did not come together in the Haryana assembly elections in October 2024 and the Delhi assembly elections in February 2025.
Imran Masood, one of the prominent faces who won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, recently said that it is necessary to redefine the relationship between the SP and the Congress before the 2027 assembly elections. He expressed his views on the future of the alliance in a conversation with The Indian Express.
Question: Why are there frequent tensions and allegations in the alliance between the SP and the Congress?
Imran Masood: There is no issue. Congress is strengthening its organization, working till the booth level. Some people said that we will not have candidates. I want to say that we are working hard on the ground and we do not need any crutches. We will fight on our own and if there is an agreement, it will be respectable. We will not let them (SP) decide which seats we contest? This decision will be taken by the party leadership. It is my job to secure the rights of Congress workers and leaders. They also have hopes and aspirations.
Question: What have you said further about the alliance, please clarify?
Imran Masood: I have said that the 80-17 formula will not work. In the Lok Sabha elections, we were given only 17 out of 80 seats in UP. This will not work. Votes were cast in the name of Rahul Gandhi. There is a favourable atmosphere in the name of Rahul ji. I have said that if there is a compromise, it should be respectful.
Question: How many seats should Congress contest in alliance with SP in the 2027 assembly elections?
Imran Masood: We are preparing for all 403 seats. If there is an agreement, it should be equal. It should not be that they say, 'We have left these seats for you'... This decision will be taken by the Congress leadership. We are not asking for anything from SP.
Question: Immediately after the Lok Sabha elections, by-elections were held on 9 assembly seats in UP, in which Congress did not participate. It was said that Congress did not get the 4 desired seats. Why did the party compromise?
Imran Masood: This is what I am saying... They (SP) said that you can contest these seats. Why are you deciding for us? You will not decide. If we are allies, we will decide our seats ourselves. There are many internal things which I should not say outside. But still I will say that now they will not decide seats for us. They give us such seats where we will lose. That is why we left the seats for by-elections. Congress is suffering losses due to this alliance. See, BJP eats up its allies and our allies eat us up.
Question: In UP, Congress is considered to be behind SP in the opposition, this was seen in both the Lok Sabha elections and by-elections. Why is this so?
Imran Masood: The circumstances in Uttar Pradesh are such that Congress has been out of power for 3 decades. We are working hard to return to power. This is not a personal matter, this is the pain of our workers. Those who work hard throughout the year are the ones who suffer the most.
Question: Do you think that if Congress and SP contest elections separately, BJP will benefit? Muslim votes may get divided?
Imran Masood: This is not true. People think that if anyone can fight BJP today, it is Rahul Gandhi and no one else. I would say that when there is a storm in the sea, it is faced by ships, not small boats. At present, there is a political storm going on in the country. That is why I say that everyone should come with Congress. This is the only party which will never go with BJP.
