LUCKNOW: Posters declaring “200 seat haq hai hamara” (200 seats are our right) have appeared outside the Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) headquarters in Lucknow ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
The posters feature photographs of
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Congress general secretary
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi.
The assertion comes as the Congress has reportedly submitted a wishlist of 200 assembly constituencies to its INDIA alliance partner, the
Samajwadi Party (SP).
'A,B,C,D' grading modelState Congress leaders are said to have framed the 200-seat demand using an “A, B, C, D” grading model based on organisational growth under its nationwide Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan.
The demand could complicate seat-sharing negotiations between the two parties, with the SP having emerged as the dominant partner in their alliance in Uttar Pradesh.
The state has 403 assembly constituencies, meaning a demand for 200 seats would put Congress in contention for nearly half of them.
The posters also reflect a push within the party to seek a larger role in the state rather than continue as the junior partner in the alliance.
Congress has sought to build on its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when it won six parliamentary seats in Uttar Pradesh. The SP won 37 seats, giving the INDIA bloc a strong showing against the ruling BJP. Congress also led in 38 assembly segments and finished second in another 42 during the general election.
Party workers could use these figures to argue for a bigger share of constituencies in 2027.
For Congress, the negotiations will involve translating its improved electoral performance into a stronger position within the alliance.
For SP, led by Akhilesh Yadav, accommodating the demand could mean giving up a substantial share of constituencies in a state where it has traditionally been the principal opposition force.
The display of the posters in Lucknow comes as the Congress is reportedly seeking to conclude seat-sharing talks by mid-November.
With the 2027 election looming, the two allies face the challenge of reconciling their respective ambitions while maintaining a united front against the BJP.
(With inputs from ANI)