The political landscape witnessed a noteworthy shift as Samajwadi Party’s President, Akhilesh Yadav, disclosed a significant development in the ongoing tussle between his party and the Congress. After a series of confrontations over seat allocation for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly polls, Akhilesh Yadav revealed that the Congress’s “most eminent leader” had initiated contact for reconciliation.
In a statement to reporters, Akhilesh Yadav stated, “If a leader of such eminence expresses a viewpoint, it warrants our attention and acknowledgment.” This statement comes on the heels of his criticism of the Congress party’s newfound emphasis on a caste census as part of their electoral strategy. The situation had escalated when Akhilesh Yadav engaged in a verbal sparring match with former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath.
While Congress sources confirmed that a senior party official, possibly acting as a representative of Rahul Gandhi, reached out to Akhilesh, they did not disclose the emissary’s identity or the content of the communication.
The discord between the two parties became palpable when the Congress party unveiled its roster of candidates for the Madhya Pradesh polls. Akhilesh Yadav stated, “Congress should explicitly convey if they are averse to forming an alliance with the Samajwadi Party. They should refrain from engaging in conspiracies or betraying our trust.” Simultaneously, he affirmed the Samajwadi Party’s commitment to stand by the Congress, irrespective of the alliance status, whenever their support was required.
This development comes in the wake of several days of heated exchanges between the two political entities. Akhilesh Yadav had criticized the Congress on the previous day for their announcement of a caste census in all states under their governance. He remarked, “The same Congress that had refrained from disclosing caste census figures now miraculously seeks a caste census. Congress now recognizes that the voter base they sought is no longer with them.”
Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party’s ally, Rashtriya Lok Dal, distanced itself from the controversy, emphasizing the necessity for Congress and Akhilesh to resolve their differences.