Samajwadi Party skips Congress-led Delhi lunch amid communication hiccup and election duties

Lawmakers gathered at Sagar Ratna restaurant on Janpath for a lunch organized by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for INDIA alliance partners, but the Samajwadi Party sent no delegates. Party members explained that Akhilesh Yadav had flown back to Lucknow after being released by Delhi Police, was ill with a high fever, and was occupied with Rajya Sabha election preparations in Uttar Pradesh. A senior SP MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, faulted Congress for delivering a formal invitation too late and failing to make a phone call, which he said could have avoided the embarrassment.

This marks the second time in as many months that Yadav missed an alliance event, the first being a September 29 meeting where he sent other leaders instead. Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh downplayed the issue, noting the late-night decision to hold the lunch and asserting overall alliance unity. Analysts suggest Yadav may be repositioning ahead of upcoming Uttar Pradesh polls, while the alliance remains crucial to opposing the government's delimitation amendment proposals.