Congress leader Udit Raj on Tuesday, 22 September defended the Samajwadi Party–Congress electoral alliance in Uttar Pradesh, declaring that in politics, combined strength far exceeds the arithmetic sum of individual parts. His remarks came in direct response to Samajwadi Party MP Iqra Hasan's assertion that the Congress cannot win elections in the state without an alliance.

The Alliance Arithmetic Argument

Citing the contrast between the 2019 and 2024 general elections, Udit Raj made a pointed case for the INDIA bloc partnership. 'In 2024, when we reached an agreement, 36 MPs were selected from the Samajwadi Party and 6 from the Congress. Before that, in 2019, only 6 MPs were selected from the Samajwadi Party. So, in politics, one plus one does not always make two; one plus one can make eleven,' he said, urging Iqra Hasan to 're-examine her understanding.'

Raj acknowledged that personal remarks flow from both sides of the alliance, but maintained that the final word rests with party leadership. 'Whatever the high command says, that will be the final decision. If they say that Congress and SP will fight elections together, then that will be it,' he added.

Attack on BJP Over Jamui Molestation Case

Turning to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shrawon Kumar's remarks on the Jamui molestation case, Udit Raj sharply criticised what he described as a dismissive attitude toward crimes against women. 'If someone from Shrawon Kumar's family had faced something like this, then he would have felt the pain,' he said. He went on to allege that 'the leaders of the BJP are themselves guilty of such heinous crimes, and that is why it is a small matter for them. We can't expect decency from them. They lack empathy; they lack character. They don't understand the concept of daughters and sisters.'

Delhi-NCR Assault Cases and the Home Minister

Reacting to multiple incidents of sexual assault reported in Delhi-NCR over the past 15 days, including the alleged rape of a minor on a DTC bus, Udit Raj directed pointed criticism at Home Minister Amit Shah. 'The very intelligent Home Minister of our country, who is a 'Chanakya', known for scheming and other manipulations, is considered very efficient. But I think all that efficiency went elsewhere because ensuring law and order in Delhi is directly under Home Affairs, and the Home Minister has failed to do it,' he said. He pointedly asked: 'Do you have any organisational capacity or not?'

On India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

Asked about the recently concluded India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, Udit Raj appeared sceptical about the urgency behind the deal. 'New Zealand's population is as big as one Lok Sabha constituency. It's a new nation. How much development could be seen? It is worrisome if we are scared of their growth, thinking that their product will be superior to ours,' he said.

On Meloni's Hijab Ban in Italian Schools

Commenting on Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's decision to ban the hijab and burqa in educational institutions in Italy, Udit Raj offered a personal view that children under 18 should not have religion imposed on them. 'They should get educated, observe, form an opinion, and then choose what they want to follow,' he said. He added that 'religion cannot, and should not, be depicted through symbols, through threads, clothes, colour or caps,' calling religion a matter of the heart rather than outward symbols. He justified Meloni's decision on the grounds that an elected government has the mandate to make such calls.

The remarks reflect growing tensions within the INDIA bloc over seat-sharing arithmetic ahead of future electoral contests, even as both SP and Congress officially remain committed to joint campaigns in Uttar Pradesh.