Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had to abandon their joint election meeting in Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday without delivering their speeches due to an unruly crowd. Sources reported that supporters broke through barricades in an attempt to reach the dais at the INDIA bloc rally in Padila Mahadev, creating a chaotic scene.
The supporters, from both the Congress and Samajwadi Party, had gathered to attend the rally. However, upon the arrival of Akhilesh Yadav, they surged forward, breaking through the barricades and causing a “stampede-like” situation, according to police sources quoted by the media.
देश में बेरोजगारी, महंगाई और हिस्सेदारी सबसे बड़े मुद्दे हैं। ये हिंदुस्तान का आज और कल तय करेंगे।
इन मुद्दों पर INDIA के विजन को लेकर श्री @RahulGandhi और समाजवादी पार्टी अध्यक्ष श्री @yadavakhilesh के बीच बातचीत हुई।
यूपी pic.twitter.com/P5rHw17mzx
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 19, 2024
Congress leader Rewati Raman Singh attributed the disturbance to the overwhelming size of the crowd and inadequate police presence. “The crowd had become too large, and there weren’t enough police officers, which caused the crowd to become uncontrollable and rush the stage. As a result, Akhilesh Ji and Rahul Ji had to leave without giving their speeches,” Singh was quoted by the media.
Security officers, concerned for the safety of the leaders, advised them to leave the venue. The disruption underscores the challenges faced in managing large political gatherings during the election season.
Rewati Raman Singh’s son, Ujjwal Raman Singh, is the Congress candidate from Prayagraj, contesting against BJP’s Neeraj Tripathi, son of senior leader Keshari Nath Tripathi. Polling in the constituency is scheduled for the sixth phase of the ongoing elections on May 25.
Phase 5 Lok Sabha elections
Meanwhile, voters from 49 constituencies across six states and two Union Territories are casting their ballots in the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
Polling is underway for five parliamentary seats in Bihar, three in Jharkhand, thirteen in Maharashtra, five in Odisha, fourteen in Uttar Pradesh, seven in West Bengal, and one each in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Key candidates in this phase include prominent Union Ministers and opposition leaders. Union Minister Piyush Goyal is contesting from Mumbai North, Smriti Irani from Amethi, and Rajnath Singh from Lucknow.
On the opposition front, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi is defending his mother Sonia Gandhi’s stronghold in Raebareli. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is running in Baramulla, while RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rohini Acharya is contesting from Saran. Additionally, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Arvind Sawant is in the fray for Mumbai South.
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