Congress' UP vision, and what angers SP rank and file

Of 403 seats in UP assembly, Congress is contesting in 105 seats in alliance with SP

Assembly election 2017, UP Elections 2017, Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh yadav

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File photo of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav (right) with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi during a joint press conference in Lucknow

Archis Mohan Lucknow/ Kanpur

Last Updated : Feb 25 2017 | 3:12 AM IST

Today's resounding defeat of the Congress party in the civic polls in Maharashtra brought forth much commentary on all that is wrong with the party. But in Uttar Pradesh, and to the chagrin of the old timers in the Samajwadi Party, the Congress looks to be putting in place a strategy that could help it rebuild the party in that state in the years to come.

Of the 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh assembly, the Congress is contesting 105, or 26 per cent of the seats, in alliance with the Samajwadi Party. But of the 85 seats