- Akhilesh Yadav missed second day of INDIA bloc protest.
- His absence from Kharge's lunch sparked SP-Congress rift.
- Yadav suggested tea meetings, slammed police over Rahul Gandhi FIR.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was absent on Day 2 of the high-voltage political drama near Jantar Mantar, where other INDIA bloc MPs protested against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Wednesday. His absence has raised questions over internal rift between the SP and Congress in INDIA alliance, ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
Yadav had participated in the Opposition protest in New Delhi on Tuesday, along with several INDIA bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. He was among the leaders detained by the Delhi Police during the protest.
However, Yadav did not join the later sit-in at Akashvani Bhavan, where Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and other Congress leaders remained for hours before being detained.
Why Was Akhilesh Yadav Absent From Kharge’s Lunch?
Yadav and other SP MPs also stayed away from Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s lunch for INDIA alliance MPs at Sagar Ratna on Janpath, as well as the protest march to Jantar Mantar.
Asked about his absence from the lunch, Yadav said it was not just about one meal and suggested that Opposition leaders could meet over tea or samosas in the future.
“In the future, you may hear about a meeting over tea. We can all sit together and even have samosas. If the slogan of samosas is raised, there is nothing wrong with it. The diplomacy will continue.”
Akhilesh Slams Delhi Police Over Rahul Gandhi FIR
Yadav also hit out at the Delhi Police over an FIR filed against Rahul Gandhi in connection with Tuesday’s Opposition protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Asked about the FIR, Yadav said, "The police have no work except registering FIRs."
Yadav also posted on X, "Those who fight for the sake of the country do not fear arrest," and claimed, "The BJP itself was the CEC," while demanding Kumar's resignation.
INDIA Bloc Protest Over SIR
High drama unfolded during the INDIA bloc march from Parliament Street towards the Election Commission headquarters. After the protesters were stopped on Parliament Street, Gandhi and Vadra, along with some other leaders, entered the Akashvani Bhawan premises.
The Opposition parties were demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar over issues related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Yadav’s absence from Wednesday’s events comes amid questions over the level of coordination between the SP and Congress. The two parties have also been in the spotlight over seat-sharing and campaigning for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh elections, making the SP chief’s absence particularly as both parties prepare for the 2027 Assembly polls.