Akhilesh Yadav starts state bus tour from Rae Bareli as alliance talks loom

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav is launching his statewide PDA Rath Yatra from Rae Bareli on September 24. The choice of starting point has put the relationship between the SP and Congress in the spotlight ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections in February 2027. Rae Bareli is the Lok Sabha constituency of top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The special bus tour is meant to build up the SP's PDA coalition of backwards, Dalits, and minorities.

The Route and Trigger

The rath will start from Bachhrawan, stop at the house of local OBC MLA Rahul Lodhi in Harchandpur, and end in Rae Bareli city for this first phase. The immediate trigger for this visit is the September 17 clashes at Feroze Gandhi Degree College between members of the RSS student wing ABVP and the SP-affiliated Chhatra Sabha. The SP alleged its student members were assaulted and criticized the police response. MLA Rahul Lodhi also accused the police of high-handedness and caste discrimination, while Akhilesh described the events as an attack on the PDA. SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said Akhilesh decided to have tea at Lodhi's house and run the yatra due to the administration's inadequate response, adding that the event should be seen in isolation before the formal yatra launch.

Seat Sharing and Congress Stance

Leaders from both parties note that starting the yatra in Rae Bareli is politically significant because seat-sharing talks for the upcoming elections are expected soon. Of the five Assembly segments under the Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seat, the SP holds three through MLAs in Bachhrawan, Harchandpur, and Sareni, while the BJP holds Rae Bareli and Unchahar. The Congress holds none of the Assembly seats here. While the SP tries to delink this event from seat talks, Congress leaders are watching closely as they expect a fair share of seats in the region despite having no sitting MLAs there.