On May 30, 2024, a packed Congress‑hosted lunch in Lucknow was attended by party leaders but missed by the Samajwadi Party’s parliamentary wing, including MP Akhilesh Yadav, who refused to show up.
The absence came a day after Rahul Gandhi staged a surprise sit‑in at the All India Radio premises in Delhi, forcing police to detain the Congress leaders but allowing them to escape to the radio building.
SP insiders told NDTV that no invitation had reached them, citing the late‑night decision by Congress; meanwhile, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on X that the lunch had been scheduled at the last minute, apologising for the short notice.
The two parties are already at odds over seat‑sharing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls; the lunch snub signals a widening rift that could jeopardise their joint bid to defeat the BJP in the state.