UP Congress in-charge: ‘Alliance with SP in place but we are prepared for all 403 seats … nobody should take us for granted'

Indian Express

18-06-2025

Though the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections are almost a couple of years away, all the major parties in the state are making a move for the vote of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs), with the Congress reaching out to the Most Backward Class (MBCs) communities such as Nishads, Prajapatis, Kumhars, and Rajbhars.
On June 14, the Opposition party launched a one-month campaign to this end. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of UP, Avinash Pande, flagged off the 'Bhagidari Nyaya Campaign' that will include awareness campaigns in villages and urban areas, and outreach to students and the youth. The party plans to reach out to the OBC youth between July 1 and 14, timing it with the college admission period.
In an interview, Pande discusses what the party wishes to achieve through this one-month initiative, its efforts to rebuild in UP, the alliance with Samajwadi Party (SP), and why the Congress is preparing for all 403 Assembly seats.
The aim is to dedicate this year to rebuilding the party before moving ahead. Several experiments are taking place, with the idea to rebuild in a proper, structured manner by fixing the responsibility of each and every member. The first phase of 100 days is currently ongoing, and we are confident it will be completed by August 15.
Once this process is over, we will have identified and connected with 23 lakh office bearers and workers, who will be given party posts right from the booth level and panchayats to the Assembly level.
Through this exercise, we are identifying faces who can be probable candidates for the future, even at the panchayat ward, Nagar Parishad ward member level. The idea is to have a panel of names ready at all levels, who can be considered for contesting polls at different levels. Once completed, our teams will have two segments, one an elected force that will be considered for elections and another for organisational posts. There may be about 20% overlap as well.
Yes, panchayat, Nagar Parishad, Nagar Palika, we have decided to contest all these elections alone. By August 15, we will be able to have a panel of potential candidates, who will not just be probable candidates but also responsible office-bearers.
We are prepared for all 403 (Assembly seats). Keeping the interest of the state, its people, and party workers in mind, the Congress decides at the time of the election. But nobody should take us for granted. If the Congress does not get respect and the desire of its workers is not respected, we want to be prepared for all 403 seats.
The alliance (with SP) is definitely in place. It is normally monitored and nurtured by the national leadership, and we follow their instructions. But depending on the views of the state unit, we take decisions, like in the case of the panchayat elections. However, it is our moral responsibility and duty to prepare for the 403 Assembly seats. We want to make it clear that if we are making sacrifices and leaving seats, it is only to defeat the BJP and for the welfare of the state.
Since the Congress was born, its sole motto has been to work for OBCs, the most backward, Dalits, Adivasis, and minorities. Rahul Gandhi went on an all-India yatra for social justice and he is of the opinion that communities should get representation as per their number. The SP came to this later, but the OBCs have always been on the agenda of the Congress.
We are working on the formula of 'paanch tatva (five elements)' while rebuilding the state unit. That is why it is taking time, and such long deliberations are going on. This means I will not give clearance to any committee unless 60% of the office-bearers and rank-holders are either Dalit, tribal, minority, OBC, or women. Along with this, we are also ensuring that 50% of the office-bearers are below 50 years.
After August 15. We are working on a new format in which office-bearers will not be decided first. They will first be given tasks and their activities will be monitored. Based on their performances, they will be given posts and responsibilities.