When Akhilesh remarked, “It’s not about the seats, but the victory,” Congress retorted, “Victory comes only when there are seats…” and thus, the “verbal barbs” began flying.

When Akhilesh remarked, “It’s not about the seats, but the victory,” Congress retorted, “Victory comes only when there are seats…” and thus, the “verbal barbs” began flying.

Amidst the fervor of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the standoff between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP) over seat-sharing is intensifying, with both parties trading barbs. While a final agreement on seat-sharing within the INDIA alliance remains elusive—and the situation shifts from mere friction to open acrimony—Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav has delivered a significant message. On Sunday, Akhilesh wrote on social media: “When the objective is clear, hands join in unity; when the gaze is fixed on the destination, the journey becomes easier. The crucial issue isn’t how many seats or which specific seats go to whom in the alliance; what matters most is ensuring the alliance’s victory. I reiterate: it is about victory, not seats. This victory will transcend the individual parties of the alliance; it will be the triumph of our collective, relentless struggle—a struggle to ensure that communalism never rears its head again, that democracy, the Constitution, and reservation remain untouched by the BJP’s agenda, and that the nation’s harmony, progress, and prosperity flourish once more. Hail the Constitution, Hail India.” This message from Akhilesh Yadav has stung the Congress like a direct arrow; not only has the seat-sharing deal failed to materialize, but Akhilesh’s social media post has also left the Congress in a quandary, prompting the party to go on the offensive against him.