After Bihar win, Congress plans strategy for UP polls

‘Besides attacking BJP, party will have to distance itself from SP, BSP’

After Bihar poll results, Congress is planning to prepare a strategy and to counter BJP, SP and BSP in the 2017 assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. Senior party leaders will be holding meetings in Lucknow, Noida and in Varanasi, from where PM Narendra Modi is MP. The first such session will be held in Lucknow on November 20, while another meeting has been called on November 21 in Noida.

The Lucknow session would be attended by district heads of the party. The outcome of this meeting would be discussed in Noida the next day with senior party leaders including former MPs and former union ministers. Both meetings would be chaired by Congress general secretary in-charge of UP Madhusudan Mistry.
Soon after Congress won 27 out of 41 seats it contested in the Bihar polls, the party had declared in the state that in the 2017 election, it would give a fitting reply to SP and BSP for “supporting” BJP in the Bihar election.

[related-post]

“To prepare the agenda for Uttar Pradesh, it is necessary to have brain-storming sessions with workers and leaders. Bihar was different because an anti-Modi wave had been created. In Uttar Pradesh, both SP and BSP have shown their inclination towards the BJP,” said state Congress president Nirmal Khatri.
He further said, “In my opinion, Congress would have to distance itself clearly from these two parties in Uttar Pradesh besides targeting BJP and Modi. This view would be put forward in the meeting and opinions on party workers and leaders would be considered.” Khatri also pointed out that BSP had once formed the government with BJP in the state and cannot be trusted to fight the same party.

Before these two sessions, Congress has also decided to come out in support of sugarcane farmers demanding higher support price. The party has asked all its district units, especially in the eastern and terai belt to organise a dharna and protest march in support of sugarcane farmers on November 18.

Sources in the party informed that some senior party leaders from the state are also likely to meet Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi regarding the strategy. Dates for this meeting are yet to be finalised.

Maulshree Seth

Maulshree Seth is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, based in Lucknow. With over 15 years of experience in mainstream journalism, she has built a formidable reputation for her on-ground reporting across Uttar Pradesh. Her expertise spans a wide array of critical beats, including state politics, governance, the judiciary, and rural development. Authoritativeness Maulshree’s work is characterized by depth and historical context. Her coverage of high-stakes state elections and landmark judicial rulings has established her as an authoritative voice on the intersection of law and politics in Northern India. She is frequently recognized for her ability to gain access to primary sources and for her nuanced understanding of the socio-economic factors that drive the world's most populous sub-national entity. Trustworthiness & Ethical Journalism Her reporting is rooted in rigorous fact-checking and a steadfast dedication to neutral, unbiased storytelling. By prioritizing field-based verification—often traveling to the most remote corners of the state—she ensures that her readers receive a truthful and comprehensive view of events. ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram