New Delhi, November 3: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav displayed a warm political camaraderie at the INDIA bloc's rally in Delhi on November 1. However, behind the public show of unity, differences between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party are growing in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The latest flashpoint is former UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya's possible entry into the opposition alliance.
Maurya recently met Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Delhi. Following the meeting, he announced that his Rashtriya Shoshit Samaj Party wanted to become part of the INDIA bloc. The development has created discomfort within the Samajwadi Party, with Akhilesh Yadav openly opposing his inclusion.
Speaking at a press conference at the SP headquarters in Lucknow, Akhilesh made it clear that Maurya was not part of the alliance. He reportedly asked party workers to ignore Maurya and said his name should not be considered in discussions over seat-sharing.
The Congress, however, appears interested in bringing Maurya into the opposition camp. Congress's Uttar Pradesh in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam has held several meetings with the former minister and supported his inclusion in the INDIA bloc.
On Monday, Maurya shared a photograph with Gautam on social media, indicating that discussions had taken place regarding political strategies for the 2027 Assembly elections.
Gautam also maintained that Maurya's inclusion should not be decided solely by Akhilesh Yadav's personal views. He argued that Maurya is an influential OBC leader and could strengthen the opposition's social outreach in Uttar Pradesh.
The disagreement has triggered criticism from senior SP leaders. Udayveer Singh questioned why Congress leaders were engaging with Maurya despite Akhilesh having clearly rejected his entry. He urged the Congress leadership to consult the SP chief before making decisions concerning the alliance in Uttar Pradesh.
Maurya, meanwhile, has launched sharp attacks against Akhilesh, accusing him of failing to stand firmly with leaders from backward communities, Dalits and minorities. He has also questioned the SP chief's commitment to his PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) political platform.
Maurya was previously associated with the Samajwadi Party but resigned in January 2024 following differences with its leadership. He subsequently formed his own political outfit.
The dispute comes at a crucial time for the INDIA bloc. The Samajwadi Party won 37 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in 2024, while Congress secured six. Both parties now face the challenge of maintaining their partnership while managing competing political interests.
Although Rahul and Akhilesh presented a united front in Delhi, the Maurya controversy highlights the difficulties the alliance faces in translating public solidarity into political coordination ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections.
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