60 seats for allies as BJP draws up big NDA plan for UP polls

The BJP is working on a strategy to strengthen the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the Assembly elections in 2027, with the party considering setting aside around 60 seats for its alliance partners, sources said.The proposed formula is aimed at bringing together allies such as the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), Apna Dal (S) and the Nishad Party, while consolidating caste and regional equations ahead of the crucial polls.The seat-sharing arrangement is expected to be a major test of the NDA's unity, as the BJP looks to expand the alliance's electoral footprint while working towards a return to power in Uttar Pradesh.How many seats the party is willing to concede to its allies will also indicate the extent of its dependence on alliance partners in the 403-member Assembly. Responding to the proposed seat-sharing strategy, BJP spokesperson Manish Shukla said the common objective of all NDA constituents was to secure a bigger victory in 2027 than the alliance's 2017 electoral performance.He said a decisive mandate would help accelerate development in the state and ensure that welfare schemes implemented by the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government reached the most disadvantaged sections of society.

On the question of seat allocation, Shukla said the NDA was the appropriate forum to decide the arrangement, adding that all constituents would work together to secure a strong majority across the state.Taking a swipe at the Samajwadi Party, he also said the BJP would work to ensure that the cycle was punctured and "Saifai returns".The Samajwadi Party, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP's efforts to accommodate its allies reflected its apprehension about the electoral battle ahead.SP leader Deepak Ranjan said the BJP, which had earlier projected confidence about forming a government on its own strength, was now looking towards its alliance partners because it was worried about the next elections.He claimed that the BJP had become disconnected from the public and argued that even expanding the NDA would not help the ruling party overcome that challenge.Ranjan said the growing consolidation of the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) communities around the Samajwadi Party would pave the way for Akhilesh Yadav's return as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister.- Ends