Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav will not attend the INDIA bloc meeting scheduled in Delhi on September 30, with the party set to send another representative instead. His absence comes at a time when discussions over a possible alliance and seat-sharing arrangement between the Samajwadi Party and Congress in Uttar Pradesh are gaining attention.
Leaders of several opposition parties are expected to attend the meeting, where discussions are likely to focus on electoral issues and the broader strategy of the INDIA bloc.
According to the report, the meeting is also expected to discuss concerns surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and developments involving the Election Commission.
SP cites Rajya Sabha preparations
The Samajwadi Party has linked Akhilesh Yadav's absence to preparations for the upcoming Rajya Sabha election. The party will instead be represented by another senior leader at the Delhi meeting.
However, the report says that some party insiders view the decision in the context of ongoing discussions with Congress over seat-sharing for the Uttar Pradesh elections.
The two parties have yet to reach an agreement on several aspects of a possible electoral arrangement, including the number of seats, timing and other terms.
Congress-SP seat-sharing talks
Congress and the Samajwadi Party have been part of the broader INDIA opposition alliance, but their relationship in Uttar Pradesh has involved negotiations over electoral strategy and seat distribution.
With the next Uttar Pradesh election approaching, seat-sharing is expected to become an increasingly important issue for both parties.
The Congress has been seeking clarity on an arrangement, while the Samajwadi Party has been weighing its own electoral calculations in the state.
Akhilesh Yadav's decision to stay away from the September 30 meeting therefore comes at a time when the two parties have not publicly finalised the terms of any new seat-sharing arrangement.
INDIA bloc meeting in Delhi
The September 30 meeting is expected to bring together senior leaders from parties associated with the INDIA bloc.
According to the report, discussions will include the political response to the SIR exercise and concerns raised by opposition parties about the functioning of the Election Commission. Several opposition leaders, including leaders from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena factions, are expected to participate.
The meeting is also likely to provide an opportunity for opposition parties to coordinate their positions on issues concerning electoral rolls and the Election Commission.
For the Samajwadi Party, however, the immediate focus also includes preparations for the Rajya Sabha election and its electoral strategy in Uttar Pradesh.
With seat-sharing talks between the SP and Congress still unresolved, Akhilesh Yadav's absence has added another point of attention ahead of the meeting. The SP's stated reason is its Rajya Sabha preparations, while the political significance of the decision will depend on how the two parties proceed with their discussions in the coming weeks.
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