Overview
- Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai announced a solo contest in the three-tier panchayat polls, with state in-charge Avinash Pande confirming no alliance participation.
- The decision was reportedly settled at a high-level meeting at 10, Janpath attended by senior Congress leaders and MPs from the state.
- Congress is rolling out its Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, rewarding booth performers and classifying all 403 Assembly constituencies into A, B and C to focus resources.
- The panchayat elections are slated for April–July 2026 without party symbols, and Congress plans a central list of endorsed candidates; both SP and Congress are preparing separate slates for the 2026 MLC polls.
- Strains with the Samajwadi Party persist over 2027 seat-sharing, with reports of a 50–60 seat offer versus Congress’s 125–150 target, and SP’s formal response to the solo panchayat plan remains pending.