Samajwadi Party (SP) Parliamentarian Shivpal Singh Patel has publicly rejected the Indian National Congress's reported demand for 181 out of 403 Assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 state elections, calling the figure 'unreasonable' and suggesting the party deserves no more than 50 to 65 seats. The remarks, made on 14 November, come as formal seat-sharing negotiations between the two INDIA bloc allies are set to begin, with a senior-level meeting scheduled for 17 November.

What SP's MP Said

Patel was categorical in his assessment, saying that Congress 'will be given fewer than 100 seats' and expressing hope that the party would 'agree on 50-60 seats or maximum 65 seats.' He underlined that the final call rests entirely with SP President Akhilesh Yadav, adding: 'Akhilesh Yadav is the SP Chief, his decision will be final... he is party chief after all.'

Patel did not mince words about Congress's current legislative standing, pointing out that the party holds only two MLAs in the 403-seat Uttar Pradesh Assembly compared to the SP's far broader base. He argued that allocating 181 seats to a party with such a thin presence would amount to 'wasting resources' and risked demoralising SP's grassroots workers who have built public trust through PDA (Pichhda, Dalit and Alpsankhayak) Panchayats and sustained fieldwork across the state.

Congress's Reported Demand and the Gap

SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav had earlier revealed that Congress submitted a list seeking 181 seats — nearly 45% of the total Assembly strength. The demand has widened the distance between the two parties even before formal talks begin. Patel's remarks signal that the SP intends to push back firmly, framing its position around electoral arithmetic rather than political accommodation.

Notably, despite the sharp disagreement on numbers, Akhilesh Yadav has maintained that the two parties will contest the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections together, with the shared objective of unseating the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The Electoral Track Record Behind the Dispute

The seat-sharing standoff is grounded in a stark contrast in recent electoral performance. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Congress contested 399 seats independently but won only two — a decline from its tally of seven in 2017. The SP, by contrast, won 111 of the 347 seats it contested in 2022, a dramatic improvement over its 47 seats in 2017.

The picture was more favourable for the alliance at the national level. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress-SP combine won 43 of Uttar Pradesh's 80 Parliamentary seats — the SP securing 37 and Congress six. That Lok Sabha momentum has apparently emboldened Congress to seek a larger share of Assembly seats, while the SP argues that Assembly and Parliamentary contests are fundamentally different in nature.

What Happens Next

Senior leaders from both the SP and Congress are scheduled to sit across the table on 17 November to begin formal negotiations. As the larger partner and principal Opposition force in Uttar Pradesh, the SP is expected to bargain hard. The outcome of these talks will shape the opposition's unified front against the BJP — and any breakdown could hand the ruling party a significant structural advantage heading into 2027.