Rahul chairs DISHA meet, MLA walks out

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday chaired the quarterly meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) at the Bachat Bhavan auditorium in the collectorate. This committee, which is headed by the senior-most MP of the district, meets every three months to discuss development projects and monitor their progress. Gandhi is currently on a two-day visit to his Parliamentary constituency.

The meeting saw the presence of several public representatives, including Amethi MP K L Sharma and Minister of State Dinesh Pratap Singh. However, the session was marked by a walkout from Unchahar MLA Manoj Kumar Pandey. Pandey, who was previously with the Samajwadi Party, was expelled from the party for allegedly working against its principles and supporting the BJP in the Rajya Sabha elections.

Speaking to the media after leaving the meeting, Pandey said he raised the issue of derogatory remarks reportedly made against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s mother in Bihar. He claimed to have submitted a written proposal to the Lok Sabha Leader and others present, urging them to condemn the remarks.

Pandey also took a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress leader had not done enough to address the shortage of ICU beds at the AIIMS in the district. He questioned how actively Gandhi had represented Raebareli in Parliament since becoming an MP. Pandey further challenged Gandhi to apologize for his accusations against the Election Commission and provide a detailed account of the work he has done for Raebareli since 2024.

The meeting highlighted the ongoing political tensions in the region, with development work discussions taking a backseat to personal and political disagreements. While Gandhi focused on his role as the senior MP overseeing district projects, Pandey’s exit underscored the growing friction between local leaders and their differing political loyalties.