SP MP Shiv Pal Patel ridicules Congress over Rahul Gandhi's decision not to contest

Samajwadi Party legislator Shiv Pal Patel launched a sharp criticism of the Congress party after Rahul Gandhi declared he would not contest the forthcoming election. Patel, speaking in the Lok Sabha, suggested that the decision had left the opposition scrambling.
"They ran away, they were scared," Patel said, implying that Congress leaders were fleeing the political fallout. The comment was aimed at highlighting what he described as the party's lack of confidence.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the election schedule, with parties positioning themselves for voter outreach. While Patel's statement drew applause from his party colleagues, Congress has not issued an immediate response.
Analysts note that such exchanges are typical in the pre‑election climate, where leaders often use parliamentary speeches to underscore perceived weaknesses of rivals.
The episode underscores the intensifying rivalry between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress as the electoral battle lines are drawn.