Congress leader P L Punia urges early seat-sharing talks with SP for UP polls

With political focus shifting to the battle for Uttar Pradesh, senior Congress member and former MP P L Punia wants the party to immediately start the seat-sharing talks with ally Samajwadi Party. He also wants the party to follow it up with selection of candidates without much delay. Punia told TOI, "There is not much time left now for the assembly elections in UP. So, talks between Congress and SP over seat distribution must start soon, and should be clinched quickly." He also stressed that Congress should follow up the seat-sharing talks with "other steps for elections", like selection of candidates. "The candidate finalisation should also be done fast. That should be done," he said. After the culmination of polls in TN, West Bengal, Kerala, Assam and Puducherry this month, UP is the next big fight between the governing BJP and the opposition, scheduled for early 2027. But some remarks and actions on the part of the members of SP and Congress have triggered unease, suggesting a battle of wits ahead of alliance negotiations. Punia, however, denied any doubts about the tie-up between SP and Congress, even rubbishing the speculations in the wake of the unannounced visit of AICC SC department chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam and MP Tanuj Punia to BSP chief Mayawati's residence. While the two could not meet Mayawati, it led to a chatter that the visit was part of Congress's pressure tactics with SP. Punia said it was just an impromptu decision of Gautam to meet a community leader, and no political meaning should be read into it. Punia said there is complete coordination between Congress and SP. "We have a partnership and there are no pressure tactics at play," he added.