Rahul-Akhilesh Bond Deepens After 2024, SP Extends Strong Support to Congress Against BJP

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is currently leading the Vote Adhikar Yatra in Bihar, aimed at mobilizing voters ahead of upcoming elections. He is receiving firm backing from RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, and now, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is set to join him. On August 28, Akhilesh will share the stage with Rahul in Sitamarhi, signaling a strengthening political partnership between the two leaders after the 2024 general elections.

From 2017 Friendship to 2024 Revival

Rahul and Akhilesh’s political camaraderie dates back to the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, when Congress and SP formed an alliance under the slogan of peace, progress and prosperity. At the time, Akhilesh had claimed their coalition would form the government in UP, but BJP’s sweeping victory left the alliance unsuccessful.

Following setbacks in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the 2022 UP assembly elections, the two leaders drifted apart. However, the political distance has significantly reduced since 2024, with both leaders now standing together on major issues like alleged vote manipulation (SIR), Operation Sindoor, and electoral reforms.

United Inside and Outside Parliament

In Parliament, Akhilesh has echoed Congress’s stance on electoral irregularities. He was present during Rahul Gandhi’s presentation on alleged vote theft to opposition leaders and later joined him in a protest march to the Election Commission.

During the 2024 elections, their partnership was visible across campaigns. Akhilesh joined Rahul in the Bharat Jodo Yatra at Agra, while Rahul addressed rallies in Kannauj in support of the SP chief. Both also campaigned together in Rae Bareli, held a joint press conference in Ghaziabad, and were projected as the Karan-Arjun of PDA in campaign posters.

Impact in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections

The SP-Congress alliance not only brought organizational coordination but also translated into results. The duo’s joint campaign helped restrict BJP to fewer than 40 seats in Uttar Pradesh, strengthening the opposition’s presence in the state.

A Challenge for BJP in 2027

Looking ahead, Akhilesh’s strategy is twofold: to reclaim power in Uttar Pradesh in 2027 and to expand SP’s influence nationally. For this, Congress’s support is crucial, particularly in consolidating the Muslim vote, which has been shifting towards Congress in several states including Maharashtra, Haryana, and Jharkhand.

In Uttar Pradesh too, Muslims have shown renewed support for Congress, making a SP-Congress partnership essential to mount a strong challenge against the BJP. If the two parties continue to contest elections together, the Rahul-Akhilesh duo could pose a serious political headache for the BJP in the years to come.