'Why Didn't You Let Us Speak?' How A Tense Moment In Lok Sabha Exposed Congress-SP Unease

Last Updated:July 22, 2026, 15:36 IST

When Akhilesh Yadav was reportedly asked by the Speaker to address Parliament over the protests by students in Delhi, Congress members allegedly jumped in, leading to commotion

Even as opposition parties put up a united front over the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protests in Delhi, signs of friction within the INDIA bloc surfaced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, with the Samajwadi Party (SP) expressing displeasure over Congress’s handling of the protest inside the House.

According to sources, the unease began when Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla called on SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to speak during the disruptions over the student protests. However, before Yadav could make his intervention, Congress members allegedly jumped in, leading to further commotion in the House.

Before leaving the House, Yadav is learnt to have told Congress general secretary KC Venugopal: “We support you. Why did you not let us speak and make our point?"

The exchange, sources said, reflected the Samajwadi Party’s frustration at not being given space despite backing the Congress-led Opposition’s strategy on the issue.

The episode comes at a time when opposition parties have been jointly targeting the Centre over the handling of the student protests. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, AAP leaders, TMC MPs and other INDIA bloc leaders have all participated in demonstrations and demanded a discussion in Parliament.

However, the latest developments bring the spotlight on the coordination challenges within the alliance, particularly between Congress and the Samajwadi Party.

Familiar Faultline In INDIA Bloc

The episode has once again highlighted one of the INDIA bloc’s biggest internal challenges: balancing a common political strategy while allowing individual allies to retain their visibility.

The Congress, as the principal opposition party in Parliament, has naturally taken the lead in the protests, with Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra spearheading demonstrations outside Parliament and leading the march towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence on Tuesday.

But regional allies, particularly the Samajwadi Party, are wary of being seen as junior partners, especially when the issue has significant resonance among young voters.

The timing of the disagreement is also significant.

The Congress and the Samajwadi Party may be allies in Parliament, but they are also preparing for the 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections, where both parties are attempting to expand their footprint.

While Yadav has publicly maintained cordial ties with Gandhi and repeatedly stressed opposition unity, the SP has also made it clear that it wants to retain its independent political identity in Uttar Pradesh rather than allowing the Congress to dominate the Opposition narrative.

About the Author

Pallavi Ghosh

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S...Read More

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