Ahead of 2019 polls, Congress reaches out to Mayawati, Akhilesh for mega UP deal: Sources

Preparing for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress is trying to make a coalition with the regional parties and is on a discussion mode with them on seat sharing prospects in Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, a mutual agreement between Congress, Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, Dalit powerhouse Mayawati and RLD leader Ajit Singh is on the cards. The sources further say a blueprint has also been prepared.

Uttar Pradesh has the maximum number of Lok Sabha seats (80) and it is said that who so ever secure maximum seats in UP, rules the country. Coalition between the parties with a common understanding will ensure fruitful results in Lok Sabha elections and Congress party knows it well. In order to take on Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress had already given high-profile seats of Gorakhpur and Phulpur, and later Kairana and Noorpur, to the coalition parties in UP.

Sources in the Congress party have revealed that a possible alliance with regional parties is in progress. Among the 80 seats, Congress is planning for 30-35 seats for BSP’s Mayawati, 32 for Akhilesh Yadav’s SP, 3 for RLD and would keep the rest for self. Understanding between the ally parties is utmost required for the unity and betterment of the coalition before polls.

With the Assembly elections in three states – Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh – barely months away, NCP chief Sharad Pawar met Mayawati last week and discussed on the future prospects of the coalition. Pawar is one of the key interlocutors who is helping in formation of the opposition front.

Though Mayawati has asked for 50 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, Congress is willing to share only 22-30 seats with BSP. The Congress is of the opinion that there should a mutual agreement between the allies to fight against the BJP. The Congress had already discussed their seats arrangement in the states of Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Kerala with their regional allies.

Allies include JMM in Jharkhand, M Karunanidhi amd Left in Tamil Nadu, Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD in Bihar and Sharad Pawar’s NCP in Maharashtra. Diplomatic talks are on with other regional parties as well.