Former BSP Minister and Other Leaders Join Congress Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2027

Former Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) minister Izhar-ul-Haq, former BSP Lok Sabha candidate Naeem Ahmed, former student leader Madan Mohan Sharma and former block chief Rashid Khan were among several political and social figures who joined the Congress in Lucknow on September 27, 2026.

The joining programme was held at the Uttar Pradesh Congress headquarters as the party continues to strengthen its organisation ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2027.

Izhar-ul-Haq Joins Congress

Izhar-ul-Haq, who served as a minister in the BSP government in the 1990s, was among the prominent figures who joined the Congress.

According to the reports, Haq has also been associated with student politics and previously contested the Lok Sabha election from Lucknow on a BSP ticket. Hindi media reports identified him as a former BSP candidate from Lucknow and said he joined the Congress at the party's State headquarters in the presence of senior Uttar Pradesh Congress leaders.

His entry into the Congress brings a former BSP minister with political experience in Uttar Pradesh into the party ahead of the next Assembly election.

Naeem Ahmed and Other Political Figures Join

Naeem Ahmed was another prominent entrant into the Congress. The supplied report describes him as a former BSP candidate who contested the 1998 Lok Sabha election from Amethi, while Hindi reporting describes him as a former electoral candidate from Bahraich.

Madan Mohan Sharma, a former student leader associated with Agra, also joined the Congress. He has been associated with student politics and is identified as the founder president of the Shri Banke Bihari Educational Society, Agra.

Rashid Khan, former block chief of Nanpara in Bahraich district, was also among those joining the Congress. Several other workers and members of social and political organisations joined the party during the programme.

Congress Welcomes New Members

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai welcomed the new members and described the joining as evidence of support for the Congress from different sections of society.

Congress leaders said the new entrants would contribute to the party's organisational work in different parts of Uttar Pradesh. Such statements represent the party's assessment of the political significance of the joining and should be distinguished from independently established electoral outcomes.

Uttar Pradesh Congress in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam and other senior State leaders were present during the membership programme. Hindi reports also said that a large number of workers and representatives associated with different social and political groups joined the party.

Congress Strengthens Organisation Ahead of 2027

The latest joining comes as political parties in Uttar Pradesh increase their organisational activity ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

For the Congress, bringing leaders and workers with experience in different political, social and grassroots organisations is part of its effort to expand its presence in the State.

The party has also been coordinating politically with the Samajwadi Party, which is an important part of the opposition landscape in Uttar Pradesh. The exact electoral arrangements and seat-sharing strategy for the 2027 Assembly election will be determined through further political discussions.

Political Background in Uttar Pradesh

The movement of political leaders between parties is a recurring feature of election preparations in Uttar Pradesh. The latest Congress joining programme included people with backgrounds in the BSP, student politics, local administration and social organisations.

The development comes at a time when parties are preparing their organisational structures, strengthening local networks and assessing potential candidates ahead of the next Assembly election.

The entry of former BSP figures into the Congress is therefore relevant to the evolving political alignments in Uttar Pradesh, although the eventual electoral impact of these individual joinings cannot be established from the membership event alone.

Uttar Pradesh Assembly Election 2027

The Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly has 403 seats, making the State's upcoming election one of the country's major electoral contests.

The 2027 election is expected to involve the BJP and its allies, the Samajwadi Party and its allies, Congress and other political parties. Parties are currently engaged in organisational preparations, public outreach and discussions over their respective electoral strategies.

For the Congress, the latest membership programme adds another development to its preparations in the State.

What Happens Next

The Congress is expected to continue its organisational programmes across Uttar Pradesh as the 2027 Assembly election approaches. Further political leaders, local representatives and workers could join different parties as the electoral process develops.

For now, the September 27 joining programme has brought former BSP minister Izhar-ul-Haq, former BSP candidate Naeem Ahmed, Madan Mohan Sharma, Rashid Khan and other political and social workers into the Congress fold.

The development adds to the ongoing political activity in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly election.

Expert View

The Congress's latest membership drive in Uttar Pradesh includes former BSP figures, student leaders and grassroots political workers from different regions. The joining comes as parties strengthen their organisations and prepare for the 2027 Assembly election. Its electoral impact will depend on subsequent organisational activity and voter response rather than the joining event alone.