During Aaj Tak's "Panchayat Uttar Pradesh" programme in Lucknow, Congress state chief Ajay Rai and state in‑charge Rajendra Gautam issued a clear statement: the party stands firmly behind MP Imran Masood and the alliance with Akhilesh Yadav‑led Samajwadi Party (SP) remains solid within the INDIA bloc. Together, they intend to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

Congress’s Reaction to Masood’s Controversy

Masood recently criticised sections of the SP and raised concerns about the treatment of Muslims in Uttar Pradesh. In response, Congress emphasized his seniority and reiterated that every party worker backs him. Ajay Rai described Masood as a “prominent leader with a strong political legacy,” underscoring that the party’s support is unanimous.

Alliance with SP Remains Unshaken

Rajendra Gautam stressed that there is no discord between Congress and SP; both share a common ideological objective – removing what he termed the “dictatorial” BJP government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He added that senior leaders from both camps will continue to discuss joint electoral strategies and draft a combined manifesto when they contest elections together.

Organisational Strength Over Arithmetic

Ajay Rai highlighted that Congress is strengthening its organisational machinery across all 403 assembly constituencies in Uttar Pradesh. He argued that the party’s performance depends more on ground‑level organisation than mere alliance arithmetic. Citing past elections, he noted the SP‑BSP alliance of 2019 fell short, whereas the Congress‑SP partnership in 2024 delivered a different outcome, especially in strongholds such as Raebareli, Amethi, and Varanasi, where he alleged irregularities during vote counting.

Religious and Legal Issues as Election Themes

Rai accused the BJP of exploiting the Ram Temple narrative for political gain and called for accountability over alleged donation mishandling. Positioning Congress as “true Sanatanis,” he promised to oppose any misuse of religion for wrongdoing. Gautam, meanwhile, criticised the Yogi government’s handling of police encounters, urging that law‑enforcement operate strictly within constitutional bounds.

In the coming months, both parties will focus on organisational coordination and broader electoral planning, aiming to present a united front against the BJP in the high‑stakes 2027 contest.