Shiv Pal Singh Patel, the Samajwadi Party MP for Pratapgarh, told PTI videos on Saturday that Congress would have won zero seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections without an alliance with his party. He also claimed that Rahul Gandhi had once considered surrendering his seat, but only entered the Raebareli contest after assurances from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav.
Patel said the Samajwadi Party directed every vote cast for it to the Congress, and that the alliance secured 37 seats for SP and six for Congress in Uttar Pradesh. He added that SP would suffer no losses even if the alliance dissolved, while Congress could lose all its seats.
The alliance's success hinged on the exchange of seats: Samajwadi Party won key constituencies such as Faizabad, while Congress captured a handful of seats, including the historic Raebareli seat. Patel highlighted that Rahul Gandhi’s willingness to shift from Amethi to Raebareli was a direct result of the SP’s backing.
UP Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi rebuked Patel’s statements, saying the Samajwadi Party should keep its leaders in check and that the INDIA bloc’s strength lies in unity. She warned that remarks like these could fracture the coalition ahead of upcoming elections.
The remarks arrive as the parties gear up for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, where the durability of the SP–Congress partnership will be tested. Both sides are expected to address internal frictions before the vote.