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Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Congress party, and Akhilesh Yadav, the chief of the Samajwadi Party, were forced to abruptly leave a public gathering in Prayagraj on Sunday. The decision was made after a disturbance erupted within the audience, resulting in a situation resembling a stampede and posing security concerns. The two prominent political figures departed the rally without addressing the attendees.
The incident unfolded during a public meeting held in Padila, which falls within the Phulpur Parliamentary constituency of Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh. Gandhi and Yadav were compelled to abandon the rally without delivering their speeches due to the unruly behavior of Congress and SP supporters, who attempted to access the stage.
Despite repeated pleas from Akhilesh and Rahul urging the party workers to maintain composure and order, their requests fell on deaf ears. The police and security personnel faced challenges in controlling the enthusiastic crowd.
Following numerous appeals to the gathering, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav engaged in a brief discussion and made the decision to leave the venue to avert any potential security lapses. Visuals captured during the event depicted damaged barricades and a surging crowd.
After departing from the rally in Phulpur, Rahul and Akhilesh proceeded to Mungari in Karachhana for a second rally within the Prayagraj district, which falls under the Allahabad parliamentary seat. A similar scenario unfolded at this rally, with an excited crowd breaching barricades and attempting to reach the stage.
Earlier in the week, Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav addressed a poll rally in Amethi, a former stronghold for the former Congress president. However, he lost the seat to Smriti Irani of the BJP in the 2019 general elections.
The fifth phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024 is scheduled to take place on May 20, and it will determine the fate of several prominent candidates, including Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh, and Smriti Irani. The Uttar Pradesh seats that will be contested in the fifth phase comprise Mohanlalganj (SC), Rae Bareli, Amethi, Jalaun (SC), Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda, Fatehpur, Kaushambi (SC), Barabanki (SC), Faizabad, Kaisarganj, and Gonda.
Rahul Gandhi is contesting from Rae Bareli, which was previously represented by his mother, Sonia Gandhi, the former Congress president.
Source: Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav rush out of Prayagraj rally amid ruckus by party workers