SP MP's Rahul was 'scared' to fight from Amethi in LS polls remark draws Cong's ire
Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel has publicly criticized Rahul Gandhi, claiming the Congress leader was 'scared' to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election from his traditional Amethi seat. Patel further asserted that the Congress party's success in Uttar Pradesh was entirely dependent on the Samajwadi Party's support.
Why it matters
This highlights growing internal friction within the SP-Congress alliance in Uttar Pradesh, which could impact future seat-sharing negotiations and political stability in the region.
NEW DELHI: Strain deepened within the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance ahead of Uttar Pradesh polls, with SP MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel in an off-the-cuff remark claimed that Rahul Gandhi was "reluctant to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election" from Amethi and chose Raebareli because he was "so scared".Patel, who represents Pratapgarh, also credited the SP-Congress alliance for the Congress's six Lok Sabha wins in Uttar Pradesh, arguing that the party would have drawn a blank in the state without SP's support.Speaking to news agency PTI, Patel said the SP leadership had to persuade Gandhi to contest from Raebareli after he appeared unwilling to fight from Amethi, the traditional Gandhi family constituency."Had there been no alliance (with the Samajwadi Party), they (Congress) wouldn't have won a single seat. It even reached a point where their top leader Rahul Gandhi was ready to give up his seat.
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