As the Uttar Pradesh Assembly election draws closer, Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, kicked off a rath yatra in Rae Bareilly, the oldest Congress bastion in India, on Thursday, 28 September 2026. He met with local MLAs and residents who had suffered during a clash between SP and ABVP workers earlier that week.
The rath yatra is more than a goodwill tour; it signals SP's intent to lead the alliance and to secure a larger share of the 403 seats in the state assembly. “We are ready to negotiate, but we need clarity on seat allocation,” said Akhilesh Yadav to a crowd of 5,000 at the rally.
Across the state, Congress leaders have been pressing the SP to finalize candidate lists, citing the need to present a united front against the BJP. “If we do not settle the pact soon, the elections will be chaotic,” warned Congress MP Imran Masood of Saharanpur.
The rath yatra will visit homes of victims of police crackdowns in the coming days, a move aimed at showcasing SP’s commitment to law‑and‑order concerns that resonate with voters. “I want to see my children grow up in a safer environment,” said a shopkeeper from a small market in Rae Bareilly, who joined the procession.
Both parties are currently compiling constituency‑level data to build bargaining positions. The two leaders are expected to meet in early October to formalise the seat‑sharing plan, a decision that will set the tone for the 2027 election.