Congress looks at 'Jangipur model' in UP to keep BJP out of power

Hopes to field upper caste candidates to eat into saffron voter base, while SP-BSP focus on consolidating dalit-OBC votes in their favour

The Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) seem to have snubbed the Congress by keeping it out of their putative grand alliance for the 80 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh. However, leaders in the Congress and the SP say the Opposition parties are working on a plan to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

SP President Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati met in New Delhi on Friday evening to seal a deal. The two parties will contest 37 seats each. Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal will contest three seats — Kairana, Mathura, and Baghpat. One seat will