The loss of BJP in 2024 Lok Sabha polls was visible when party lost more than 30 seats won in 2019 Lok Sabha polls. What could be more shocking when party lost in Ayodhya where Ram Temple was inaugurated before the polls.

Instead of gaining from Ram temple BJP lost seats in and around Ayodhya. So much so PM Narendra Modi was trailing in initial rounds against UPCC president Ajay Rai in Varanasi. Even Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also had tough time in Lucknow to retain his seat against Ravi Das Mehrotra of Samajwadi Party.

Enthused by the success of Lok Sabha elections where Akhilesh Yadav succeeded in increasing the tally of his party MPs from three to 37,Samajwadi Party is busy in strengthening PDA (Pichda, dalit and alpsankhayak).

At the same time Akhilesh Yadav is carefully making attempts to win over upper castes. He is building temples, visiting temples, celebrations, festivals and getting blessings from religious persons. All these attempts are also shown on social media.

Significantly enough in the absence of any dialogue with Rahul Gandhi Akhilesh Yadav has also given green signals to certain candidates to make preparations for assembly polls. There has been no official announcement but the possible candidates after getting green signal from Akhilesh Yadav are making all the preparations in their respective constituencies.

On the other hand, Congress Party is also making preparations in all the assembly constituencies. UPCC president Ajay Rai repeatedly said that his party was making preparations in all the assembly constituencies to form the government.

Meanwhile Congress Party organised training camps to rebuild the organisation at the grass root. Senior leaders were deputed from the centre to address these training camps to identify the issues and spread the message of the party. Congress Party has already decided to raise the issues of caste census, social justice unemployment and social inequality. Rahul Gandhi is raising these issues all over the country.

Congress has to decide whether to take the advantage of improved performance due to an alliance with Samajwadi Party in 2024 Lok Sabha polls when party became more visible and gained more seats. The other option is rebuild the organisation independently in all the assembly constituencies for long term planning for Lok Sabha polls in 2029.

There are certain leaders in Congress in UP who want an alliance with BSP to take the advantage of vote transfer and win more seats. Recently two dalit leaders including party MP Tanuj Punia made an attempt to meet BSP national President and former chief Minister Mayawati. But the meeting did not take place much to the embarrassment of party leadership.

On the other hand senior party leaders have openly demanded there should be meeting between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi for seat sharing and formulate the strategy to take on BJP. (IPA Service)