SP MP alleges Rahul Gandhi withdrew from Amethi contest

A Samajwadi Party (SP) member of parliament alleged on Tuesday that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was reluctant to contest from Amethi, his longstanding parliamentary seat in Uttar Pradesh. The SP lawmaker's comments have triggered fresh concerns about potential rifts within the opposition INDIA bloc coalition, which was formed to present a united challenge to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

Amethi has been a Congress stronghold represented by the Gandhi family for decades. The allegation suggests internal disagreements within the opposition alliance regarding seat allocation and electoral strategy in a key state. The SP is a crucial constituent of the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, where the two parties have significant electoral influence.

The remarks come at a sensitive time for the opposition coalition, which has sought to project unity despite periodic tensions over seat-sharing arrangements across various states. The INDIA bloc comprises multiple regional and national parties with competing interests, making seat negotiations contentious in many constituencies.

Neither the Congress nor the SP has issued a formal response to the allegation. Political observers note that such public statements risk exposing cracks in the coalition at a time when opposition parties are attempting to maximize their combined electoral strength.