‘UP Ke Do Ladke’ On 2 Separate Paths For State Polls? Why 2026 May Not Be Like 2024 For Rahul & Akhilesh

Published 13 July 2026 · politics

‘UP Ke Do Ladke’ On 2 Separate Paths For State Polls? Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav & 2024 Congress-SP Factor Written By, Last Updated: July 13

‘UP Ke Do Ladke’ On 2 Separate Paths For State Polls? Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav & 2024 Congress-SP Factor Written By, Last Updated: July 13, 2026, 19:30 IST What was the Congress-SP strategy in 2024? What do Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav want? Why UP state assembly elections may be different, News18 explains Rapid Read Akhilesh Yadav (left) and Rahul Gandhi. (PTI File) As the rift between the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Indian Congress (INC) widens amid aggressive seat-sharing demands for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections and fierce verbal clashes over regional primacy and minority representation, they key question is – Will Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi fight the polls together? While both parties found massive success together in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, their state-level workers are increasingly treating each other as political rivals rather than allies. NUMBER GAME: WHAT HAPPENED IN 2024 POLLS? In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh, the SP-Congress alliance (INDIA bloc) won a total of 43 out of 80 seats. Samajwadi Party (SP): Won 37 seats (Contested 62 seats). Indian Congress (INC): Won 6 seats (Contested 17 seats). The alliance successfully limited the BJP-led Democratic Alliance (NDA) to 36 seats. The Samajwadi Party emerged as the single largest party in Uttar Pradesh, dramatically improving on its 2019 tally of just 5 seats. The INDIA bloc captured a 43.52% popular vote share across the state, running neck-and-neck with the NDA’s 43.69%. Significant victories for the alliance included Rahul Gandhi in Rae Bareli, Akhilesh Yadav in Kannauj, and a historic win for the SP in the Faizabad (Ayodhya) constituency.

#WATCH | Saharanpur, UP | On SP leader Udaiveer Singh's statement on him, Congress leader Imraan Masood says, "Samajwadi Party is the one shouting for an alliance… and it is due to the alliance that you could bring 37 seats in 2024, otherwise you could not even pass 120 seats… pic.twitter.com/REFUyFXCGT— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) July 12, 2026 THE 2024 CONGRESS-SP STRATEGY Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav reshaped the 2024 election in Uttar Pradesh by aligning their core strengths, combining their ground workers, and running a tightly coordinated campaign. Dubbing themselves “UP ke do ladke" (Two boys of UP), their collaborative strategy directly countered the ruling party’s dominant narrative. Seat-Sharing Math: Congress accepted a modest 17-seat allocation from the Samajwadi Party (SP). Both parties focused purely on their respective electoral strongholds. This seamless division ensured anti-incumbency votes did not fracture. Unifying Ground-Level Workers: Leaders actively bridged past rivalries between local party workers. Early joint shows, like the Agra Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, signaled complete unity. Local cadres worked effectively to deliver votes to each other’s candidates. Shared Campaigning & Combined Rallies: Massive public meetings in cities like Amroha and Kannauj amplified their reach. They jointly targeted localized issues like paper leaks, joblessness, and inflation. Shared media briefings in places like Ghaziabad presented a unified opposition front. Blending Social Coalitions: Yadav’s PDA (Pichda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) strategy targeted backward classes, Dalits, and minorities.Gandhi’s nationwide pitch on protecting the Constitution reinforced the PDA platform. Their combined stance successfully drew a large chunk of shifting Dalit voters away from traditional parties.