Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Congress, SP Downplay Heated Exchange Ahead of Uttar Pradesh Polls
Congress MP Imran Masood and Samajwadi Party MLA Ashu Malik argued during a meeting in Saharanpur.
Masood was chairing the meeting and asked people not to interrupt.
Malik said the meeting was not being run according to the rules.
The two politicians later said the disagreement was normal and should not become a controversy.
The BJP used a video of the argument to criticize the Congress and Samajwadi Party alliance.
Congress and the Samajwadi Party are trying to work together in Uttar Pradesh.
They are preparing for the next Assembly election and discussing how to coordinate.
The parties had performed strongly together in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in the state.
Congress MP Imran Masood and SP MLA Ashu Malik exchanged heated remarks during a meeting in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Masood said participants should seek the chair’s permission before speaking and follow meeting rules.
Both leaders later described the incident as routine and denied that it represented a larger dispute.
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari cited the exchange as evidence of tensions between the Congress and Samajwadi Party.
The incident comes as the two parties prepare for upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and discuss coordination.
- Who
- Congress MP Imran Masood, Samajwadi Party MLA Ashu Malik, and BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari were the main figures involved or commenting.
- What
- Masood and Malik had a heated exchange over interruptions and the conduct of a meeting, which both later described as routine.
- When
- The exchange occurred during preparations for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections; the article refers to the election as 2027 and also says polling is due early next year.
- Where
- A District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee meeting in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
- Why
- Masood objected to interruptions and sought to enforce meeting procedures, while Malik disputed whether the meeting was following the rules.
Congress and Samajwadi Party Account
BJP Criticism
Meaning of the exchange
Congress and Samajwadi Party Account
Masood said the incident was a normal part of meetings, while Malik called it routine and said it should not be turned into a controversy.
BJP Criticism
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari portrayed the exchange as evidence that the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance was fighting internally.
Meeting procedure
Congress and Samajwadi Party Account
Masood said he was responsible for giving elected representatives an opportunity to speak and asked them to follow the chair’s procedure. Malik said public representatives commonly want to voice their views and that the correct meeting process was stated.
BJP Criticism
The BJP highlighted the recorded remarks, including the exchange over “pakoras,” to question the opposition parties’ ability to work together.
Political impact
Congress and Samajwadi Party Account
The two parties are seeking to maintain coordination ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and have not described the incident as a serious dispute.
BJP Criticism
Bhandari argued that parties busy fighting each other would not win the trust of Uttar Pradesh voters.
- Congress MP
- Imran Masood, who was chairing the meeting
- Samajwadi Party MLA
- Ashu Malik
- Location
- Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh
- Disputed issue
- Whether speakers were interrupting proceedings and following meeting rules
- Congress-Samajwadi Party result in 2024 Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha election
- The Samajwadi Party won 37 seats and Congress won six
- BJP criticism
- Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said the exchange showed conflict within the opposition alliance
- Election context
- Congress and the Samajwadi Party are preparing for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections and discussing coordination