AAP's Rajya Sabha MP meets Samajwadi Party chief, fueling 2027 alliance speculation

Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh met Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at the SP headquarters in Lucknow on Tuesday, triggering intense speculation about a possible alliance ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The hour-long meeting, which took place around 1 pm, has set off a fresh round of political chatter in the state capital about seat-sharing arrangements between the two opposition parties.

Singh's visit to the SP office is being seen as politically significant, coming more than two years before voters go to the polls in India's most crucial state. While neither party has issued an official statement on the nature of the discussions, political observers believe the talks centered on exploring the possibility of a joint contest against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in 2027. The Aam Aadmi Party, which currently governs Delhi and Punjab, has been trying to expand its footprint in Uttar Pradesh for several years with limited success.

The Samajwadi Party, which emerged as the principal opposition force in the 2022 assembly elections, has been in talks with various opposition parties to forge a broad alliance. Akhilesh Yadav's party had tied up with smaller outfits including the Rashtriya Lok Dal in the last state polls but failed to dislodge the BJP from power. Any potential partnership with AAP could help both parties consolidate anti-BJP votes in certain constituencies.

However, the lack of any formal announcement following Tuesday's meeting suggests that the talks are still in preliminary stages. Both parties are likely weighing the electoral mathematics and organizational challenges before committing to a formal alliance for the 2027 battle.