Samajwadi Party MP Claims Rahul Gandhi's Reluctance in Raebareli

In a recent statement, Shiv Pal Singh Patel, a Member of Parliament from the Samajwadi Party representing Pratapgarh, asserted that the Congress party would not have secured any seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections without a coalition with his party. Patel emphasized that Rahul Gandhi was initially reluctant to contest from the Raebareli constituency, indicating that he was even prepared to forgo his candidacy altogether. This revelation came during an interview where Patel highlighted the importance of the alliance between the two parties.

Patel recounted that Gandhi's decision to run from Raebareli instead of his traditional seat in Amethi was only made after receiving encouragement from Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party. According to Patel, Yadav had to reassure Gandhi, warning him that if he declined to contest, the Samajwadi Party would field its own candidate. This persuasion was crucial in convincing Gandhi to participate in the elections, as he was reportedly fearful of the outcome.

The electoral performance of the Congress party has been on a downward trajectory since 1989, when it last held power in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2024 elections, the Samajwadi Party emerged with 37 seats, including the significant Faizabad constituency, while Congress managed to secure only six seats. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) followed with 33 seats, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) garnered 36 seats. Currently, the Congress holds just two seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly, in stark contrast to the Samajwadi Party's 101.

Addressing the Congress's recent strategic appointments, Patel expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of caste-based politics, suggesting that the party's efforts to attract Dalit votes were futile. He argued that the Dalit community has shifted their support towards the Samajwadi Party, recognizing the lack of significant progress during both Congress and BJP rule. Patel reiterated that the Samajwadi Party's mission is to promote equality and opportunity for all societal sections, aligning with the principles of its founder, Ram Manohar Lohia.

Looking ahead, Patel warned that if the Congress continues to contest elections independently, it risks losing all its seats. He stated confidently that without an alliance, the Congress would face a complete electoral collapse, as voters would perceive their candidates as mere vote-splitters. In response to Patel's remarks, Anshu Awasthi, a spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh Congress, urged the Samajwadi Party to manage its leaders better and acknowledged the role of the INDIA bloc in Patel's electoral success.