Will Congress Win All 11 Graduates’ And Teachers’ Seats in UP?

The Indian National Congress has declared its intent to independently field candidates across all 11 seats—comprising five graduates' and six teachers' constituencies—in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council elections slated for 2026, signaling a strategic push to bolster its presence in the upper house amid intensifying political rivalries. Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai announced the decision in a statement on Friday, emphasizing the party's commitment to amplifying the concerns of youth, educators, and professionals without alliances.

This move comes as the BJP dominates the 100-seat council, where seats are indirectly elected through various constituencies, including those by MLAs, local bodies, and specialized voter groups like graduates and teachers, with the remainder nominated by the government.

Rai outlined an aggressive mobilization drive, including the registration of 500,000 graduate voters and 200,000 teachers to expand the electorate base. Graduates' constituencies restrict voting to degree holders from recognized Indian universities or equivalents, while teachers' seats are limited to full-time educators at secondary schools or higher institutions.

To spearhead the campaign, the party has appointed coordinators for key seats: Vikrant Vashishtha for Meerut-Saharanpur Graduates', Raghuraj Singh Pal for Agra Graduates', Devmani Tiwari for Lucknow Graduates', Sanjay Priyadarshi for Varanasi Teachers', and Arvind Singh Patel for Varanasi Graduates'. These figures, drawn from local party ranks, will oversee voter outreach and candidate selection, with MPs, MLAs, and senior leaders assigned as in-charges for all constituencies.

The announcement underscores Congress's bid to reclaim ground in Uttar Pradesh, where it holds no seats in the 403-member Legislative Assembly following the 2022 elections won by the BJP-Yogi Adityanath alliance. Rai accused the ruling BJP of electoral malpractices in the previous cycle, alleging "vote theft, booth capturing, and ballot box replacement" to silence opposition voices.

To counter such issues, the party has established a dedicated 'Connect Centre' at its Lucknow headquarters, linking district-level Coordinator Committees for real-time coordination. Frontal organizations, including the Legal, Teachers', and Medical Cells, have been roped in for specialized roles, from legal oversight to mobilizing professional networks.

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This solo strategy reflects Congress's evolving playbook under national leadership, prioritizing direct engagement with educated and teaching communities to challenge the BJP's stronghold in non-elected forums. The UP Legislative Council, often a rubber-stamp body, plays a crucial role in legislative delays and endorsements. With biennial elections typically rotating these constituencies, Congress aims to leverage anti-incumbency on issues like education funding and youth unemployment. As preparations intensify, the polls could preview broader alliances or fractures ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, where Uttar Pradesh's 80 Lok Sabha seats remain a national battleground.

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