# Case for Congress-SP merger made as parties shift social bases 2026-08-12T14:58:57+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet An opinion piece in The Hindu argues for a merger between Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) beyond a mere electoral alliance. It notes that Congress under Rahul Gandhi is repositioning as a party for Bahujans, OBCs, SCs, STs, and economically disadvantaged groups, with his emphasis on a nationwide caste census and the slogan ‘Jitni Abadi, Utna Haq’. Meanwhile, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav is broadening his party's base beyond Yadav-Muslims, now including Brahmins under his PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) framework. The piece suggests that an alliance would only coordinate elections, while a merger could align ideological purpose. It highlights that both leaders are attempting to redefine their parties' social bases, creating a potential for a unified political force. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: Akhilesh Yadav, caste politics, Congress, Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party, social justice Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/case-for-congress-sp-merger-made-as-parties-shift-social-bases/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/case-for-congress-sp-merger-made-as-parties-shift-social-bases/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.