Congress backs Imran Masood, reaffirms SP alliance for UP polls despite differences
The Congress on Wednesday strongly defended party MP Imran Masood while reiterating that its alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) remains intact in
The Congress on Wednesday strongly defended party MP Imran Masood while reiterating that its alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party (SP) remains intact in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at Aaj Tak's Panchayat Uttar Pradesh programme in Lucknow on Wednesday, state Congress chief Ajay Rai and state in-charge Rajendra Gautam said the Congress and the SP are united under the INDIA bloc and will jointly challenge the BJP in the 2027 Assembly elections. Read Full Story The two leaders asserted that Masood is a senior Congress leader who enjoys the support of the organisation, even as they stressed that there was no conflict with the SP and that both parties remain ideological partners in their fight against the BJP. CONGRESS STRESSES INDIA BLOC UNITY The remarks came amid a political row triggered by recent statements from Masood, who criticised sections of the Samajwadi Party and questioned its approach towards issues concerning Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. Masood had urged SP leaders to focus on jointly taking on the BJP instead of targeting Congress leaders and asked the party to raise its voice against the alleged atrocities faced by Muslims in the state.
Responding to the controversy, Ajay Rai described Masood as one of the Congress's prominent leaders with a strong political legacy. He said every Congress worker stood firmly behind him and that the party fully supported its MP. FOCUS ON COMMON IDEOLOGICAL OBJECTIVE At the same time, Rajendra Gautam underlined that the Congress and the SP remain partners within the INDIA bloc and share a common ideological objective. He said there was no dispute between the two parties and expressed confidence that the alliance would work together to remove what he described as the "dictatorial" BJP government, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in the 2027 Assembly elections. Gautam added that senior leaders of both parties would discuss future electoral strategy and prepare a joint manifesto whenever they contest elections together. STRENGTHENING ALLIES Speaking about the Congress's preparations for the next Assembly polls, Ajay Rai said the party was working organisationally across all 403 Assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. He maintained that strengthening the Congress would also strengthen its allies. Citing previous electoral outcomes, Rai noted that the SP-BSP alliance in 2019 had failed to deliver the expected results, while the Congress-SP alliance in 2024 had produced a different outcome.
He argued that electoral performance ultimately depends on political circumstances and organisational strength rather than alliance arithmetic alone. Rai also referred to the party's recent electoral performances in UP, including constituencies such as Rae Bareli, Amethi and Varanasi, while alleging irregularities during counting in Varanasi. ATTACK ON BJP OVER RAM TEMPLE ISSUE The Congress leaders used the platform to target the BJP government on a range of political issues. Ajay Rai accused the BJP of using Lord Ram for political purposes and raised questions over allegations relating to the handling of donations connected to the Ram Temple. He demanded accountability from those responsible and said the Congress would continue raising the issue. Describing himself and the Congress as followers of Sanatan traditions, Rai asserted that his party represented "true Sanatanis" and would oppose any wrongdoing committed in the name of religion. ON ENCOUNTERS AND IDEOLOGICAL BATTLE Rajendra Gautam also questioned the Yogi Adityanath government's handling of police encounters. He said criminals should be arrested and punished through due legal process and argued that law enforcement must function within the framework of the Constitution.
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