UP: Eye on 2027 Assembly polls, Congress plans outreach for Dalits, OBCs & minorities

“Tanuj can carry forward the experience of his father and former MP P L Punia, who has extensively worked among Dalits of the state. Moreover, he is young and energetic and can become the voice of Dalits in the state. Soon, we will begin an extensive outreach initiative,” claimed a senior Party leader.

He added that the party is preparing for a revamp of its minority wing as well as its chief, Shehnawaz Alam, has been given a bigger responsibility as AICC secretary and co-in-charge of neighbouring Bihar. The OBC wing of the state unit is also set for a revamp soon, keeping the 2027 Assembly elections in mind.

While the Samajwadi Party has been claiming that it got support of Dalits along with backwards and minorities because of its call for “PDA” formula during Lok Sabha elections, both the Congress and the SP wanted to see whether the formula continues to work beyond Lok Sabha polls as well.

Even as leaders in both the parties claim that neither would take any step that might lead to the breaking of the alliance, despite the best of efforts, it has been difficult for both the parties to reach a common consensus on seat sharing be it in Uttar Pradesh or other states. Thus, the Congress wants to be ready on ground beforehand among the three communities so that it does not have to face a similar situation in the 2027 Assembly polls.