The political tussle between Samajwadi Party and Congress in Western UP seems to be intensifying regarding the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections 2027. The matter is no longer limited only to seat distribution, but there is also a tussle between the two parties regarding Muslim leadership and political influence in Western UP. The recent statements of Congress MP from Saharanpur Imran Masood and SP MP from Kairana Iqra Hasan have given further fuel to this discussion.
Tezzbuzz Desk- Imran Masood is continuously raising the demand for Congress's participation in the SP-Congress alliance and early distribution of seats. He says that the decision regarding alliance should be taken in time and Congress will not compromise on its political stake. At the same time, Iqra Hasan has strongly defended the party by supporting the leadership of SP President Akhilesh Yadav. He also said that if the alliance breaks, Congress may have to suffer losses.
Many political equations are being seen behind SP's nomination of Iqra Hasan. She is not only recognized as a Muslim woman MP, but she has also made her place as a young woman leader. His social background is also linked to the Gurjar community. In such a situation, Iqra Hasan's role for SP is not being limited to Muslim voters only.
In western UP, Muslim and Gurjar social equations are considered important in many assembly constituencies. In such a situation, by activating Iqra Hasan, SP can try to give a broad message among Muslim, Gurjar, backward and young voters. Recently Iqra Hasan had said that she is Muslim, woman and OBC and she has faced harassment at many levels.
Dimple Yadav is already a prominent face regarding women leadership in SP. Now Iqra Hassan is also being seen as an emerging young female leader along with her. It is believed that through Iqra's activism in Western UP, SP wants to give the message of taking forward the new generation and women leadership. The special thing is that till now Iqra Hasan has not been embroiled in any major controversy.
On the other hand, Imran Masood is considered a Muslim leader who has had a long influence in the politics of western UP. His importance for Congress increased further after winning from Saharanpur in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Now before the 2027 assembly elections, he is openly expressing his views regarding seat sharing. He says that Congress should get a respectable share in the alliance and seats should be decided in advance for election preparations.
The 2017 assembly elections are also continuously coming up in the discussion about seat sharing between SP and Congress. Congress is demanding more seats on the basis of the alliance between the two parties in 2017. However, the result of the alliance in that election was not as per the expectations of the Congress. Now for 2027, Congress wants to make the same old experience the basis of talks, while SP wants distribution of seats on the basis of existing political and social equations.
The large presence of Muslim voters in western UP influences the politics of many assembly constituencies. The number of Muslim voters is significant in many areas belonging to Saharanpur, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnor, Meerut and Moradabad divisions. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the SP-Congress alliance had won many important seats in western UP. The victory of Imran Masood from Saharanpur and Iqra Hasan from Kairana was also a part of this political change.
Now the important question is through which face the message of opposition politics will be carried forward in Western UP in the assembly elections 2027. Congress has Imran Masood, while SP is continuously activating Iqra Hasan. Through Iqra, SP is seen trying to increase its reach to women, Muslim, youth and OBC voters. His communication style has also been discussed within the party.
However, promoting Iqra Hasan does not mean that SP has ended the role of its old Muslim leaders. Azam Khan has had political influence over the party for a long time. Rampur MP Mohibullah Nadvi is also among the prominent Muslim faces of SP. Whereas in Meerut and surrounding areas, old leaders like Shahid Manzoor have organizational influence. In such a situation, the strategy of promoting Iqra Hasan is also being seen as an effort by SP to prepare its future leadership.