The spat erupted when SP MP Iqra Hasan accused the Congress of lacking the capacity to win seats on its own.
In a fiery exchange on Tuesday, Hasan said that only Akhilesh Yadav could defeat the BJP. The remark triggered a sharp response from Congress MP Imran Masood, who defended Rahul Gandhi's leadership and claimed that Rahul had "unfurled" the party's fortunes. Masood warned that a delayed seat‑sharing deal could push the alliance toward a different course.
Sources say senior Congress leaders, including UP in‑charge Rajendra Pal Gautam and Imran Masood, are urging Akhilesh Yadav to expedite a seat‑sharing agreement. Yet, a faction within the party argues that demanding too many seats could alienate winnable constituencies. A senior UP Congress leader told an off‑the‑record conversation that over‑ambitious seat demands could hurt the alliance's chances against the BJP.
Both parties are also courting the Dalit electorate, which accounts for roughly one‑fifth of Uttar Pradesh's voters. The fragmented Dalit vote, which has weakened Mayawati's BSP, could prove decisive in the upcoming polls.
Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav will soon decide the final seat split, determining whether the alliance can stand united before the elections.