The lunch, hosted by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on October 7, brought together Opposition parliamentarians ahead of another demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral roll revisions.
Samajwadi Party representatives stayed away from both the gathering and the subsequent protest, raising questions about relations between the alliance’s two largest parliamentary constituents.
Party leaders expressed dissatisfaction over inadequate consultation and the manner in which Congress organised demonstrations against the Election Commission. Their objections centred on short notice, communication failures and the perception that joint Opposition activities were being directed primarily by Congress.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh rejected suggestions that allies had been deliberately excluded. He maintained that every INDIA bloc constituent had been invited, explaining that arrangements were finalised late on Tuesday, leaving some parties insufficient time to participate.
The explanation did not entirely resolve the disagreement. Samajwadi Party representatives maintained that communication from senior Congress leaders had been inadequate, while accounts differed over whether a formal invitation had been received or merely delivered too late.
The disagreement followed Tuesday’s demonstration outside Akashvani Bhavan, where Rahul Gandhi staged a protest after Opposition parliamentarians attempted to march towards the Election Commission.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav participated in the earlier mobilisation and was among the Opposition leaders detained by Delhi Police. He subsequently returned to Lucknow.
His participation on Tuesday made the party’s absence the following day particularly conspicuous. The sequence also suggested that disagreement concerned the management of joint political action rather than necessarily extending to the Opposition’s stated objections to electoral roll revisions.
The Samajwadi Party has opposed the Special Intensive Revision exercise and questioned the Election Commission’s handling of voter lists. Congress has advanced similar objections, accusing the electoral authorities of failing to address concerns about deletions and eligibility.
The Election Commission has defended electoral roll verification as necessary for maintaining accurate voter records and removing ineligible entries. The Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected Opposition allegations of manipulation, accusing Congress of attempting to discredit electoral institutions.
The immediate dispute within the alliance, however, concerns political consultation rather than the substance of those allegations.
Congress leaders have sought to project the demonstrations as a collective campaign involving several Opposition parties. Samajwadi Party figures have indicated that such activities require advance discussion among alliance partners, particularly when prominent leaders are expected to participate.
Differences between the parties also extend to electoral arrangements in Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly elections are scheduled for 2027.
The Samajwadi Party emerged as the stronger partner in their parliamentary alliance during the 2024 general election, winning 37 of Uttar Pradesh’s 80 Lok Sabha constituencies. Congress secured six seats.
Those results strengthened Akhilesh Yadav’s position in negotiations over future electoral cooperation and established the Samajwadi Party as a central force within the Opposition alliance.
Disagreements over seat-sharing expectations and organisational influence have consequently become important considerations as both parties prepare for the state election.
Neither party has announced a formal breakdown of their alliance, and Wednesday’s absence does not establish that electoral cooperation has ended.
Nevertheless, the disagreement has demonstrated how differences over consultation can complicate attempts to coordinate demonstrations, even where participating parties broadly agree on the underlying political issue.
Wednesday’s programme continued without Samajwadi Party participation. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and parliamentarians representing other Opposition parties joined the demonstration following Kharge’s lunch.
Police prevented protesters from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar, resulting in another confrontation and the detention of Opposition leaders. The demonstrators demanded accountability from the Election Commission and reiterated their call for Kumar’s resignation.
Congress maintained that the demonstrations would continue despite police restrictions, while participating Opposition leaders criticised the authorities for preventing their march.
The lunch itself took place at the Sagar Ratna restaurant on Janpath, where Opposition representatives discussed their campaign against alleged electoral irregularities before leaving for the demonstration.
Several parliamentarians attending the gathering sought explanations for the Samajwadi Party’s absence, reflecting the attention attracted by its decision.
