SP MP Claims Akhilesh Yadav Persuaded Rahul Gandhi to Contest 2024 Lok Sabha Polls From Raebareli

October 4, 2026

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party MP Shiv Pal Singh Patel has claimed that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was initially reluctant to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli and was persuaded by SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to enter the fray.

Patel also claimed that without the alliance with the Samajwadi Party, the Congress would not have won a single seat in Uttar Pradesh in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. His remarks come amid ongoing discussions between the two parties over seat-sharing for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.

SP MP says Rahul Gandhi was ‘scared’

Speaking to PTI Videos, Patel claimed that Rahul Gandhi had reached a point where he was ready to give up his seat and chose Raebareli instead of Amethi because he was “so scared”.

According to Patel, Akhilesh Yadav reassured Gandhi and persuaded him to contest from Raebareli, warning that the SP would field its own candidate from the constituency if he did not agree to contest.

Patel said Gandhi was otherwise extremely reluctant to contest the seat, which has traditionally been associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family.

Patel credits SP-Congress alliance for 2024 results

The SP MP claimed that the Samajwadi Party extended full support to the Congress during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

He said the SP won 37 seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the Congress won six seats. The BJP won 33 seats in the state, while the NDA tally was 36.

Patel also said the Congress should not seek more than 50 seats in future seat-sharing negotiations and urged the party to cooperate with the Samajwadi Party.

Congress hits back at SP MP

Reacting to Patel’s remarks, Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi said the Samajwadi Party should rein in leaders making such statements.

Awasthi said Patel himself became an MP because of the INDIA bloc and should avoid making such remarks.