INDIA bloc will form next government, says SP MP Awadhesh Prasad; Rahul or Akhilesh could be PM
Synopsis
SP MP Awadhesh Prasad has thrown down the gauntlet: the INDIA bloc will form the next government, and either Rahul Gandhi or Akhilesh Yadav could be Prime Minister. The declaration — made after a reportedly packed Ramlila Maidan rally — signals the Opposition is moving from protest mode to prime-ministerial posturing, even as the question of a unified face remains unresolved.
Key Takeaways
SP MP Awadhesh Prasad on 2 November said the INDIA bloc will form the next government at the Centre.
He named Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav as potential Prime Ministers, saying the final decision will be made post-election.
Prasad was responding to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi 's remark that Gandhi would remain a 'mock Prime Minister' for 30 years .
The SP MP described the Ramlila Maidan rally on 1 November as historic, with crowds spilling onto surrounding roads.
Prasad said the rally centred on protecting Dalit voting rights and the constitutional guarantee of reservation .
Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad on Monday, 2 November asserted that the INDIA bloc would form the next government at the Centre, stating that either Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi of the Indian National Congress or SP chief Akhilesh Yadav could become Prime Minister — with the final call to be made by the alliance after winning the election.
Prasad's Challenge to the BJP
Prasad's remarks came in direct response to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi's jibe that the Opposition would continue holding 'mock Parliament' sessions for the next 30 years and that Gandhi would remain a 'mock Prime Minister.' The SP veteran pushed back sharply, arguing that political change was not only possible but inevitable.
"When the winds of change begin to blow, and change is the law of nature, transformation is inevitable. There will certainly be a change, and the INDIA bloc will have a Prime Minister. Whoever the INDIA bloc chooses as its leader will become the Prime Minister. It could be Rahul Gandhi or our leader Akhilesh Yadav. However, the final decision on this will be taken by the INDIA bloc after winning the election," Prasad said.
Unity Within the Alliance
Prasad also rejected suggestions of internal divisions within the Opposition front, insisting that the INDIA bloc's constituent parties remained united in purpose despite sustained criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"There is no rift among the members of the INDIA bloc. There is unity among the INDIA bloc. The purpose for which the members have come together is a major one; there is unity and harmony among the people of the INDIA bloc, which baffles the Bharatiya Janata Party," he said.
Ramlila Maidan Rally Called Historic
The SP MP referenced the INDIA bloc's rally held at Ramlila Maidan on Sunday, 1 November, describing the turnout as historic and reflective of broad public support for political change. He said the crowd cut across party, individual, and social lines.
"A historic crowd gathered at Ramlila Maidan. This crowd did not belong to any one party, individual or section of society; it represented the voice of the entire nation and its people. It was the voice of change," Prasad said.
He added that the ground was completely packed with no room to stand, and that large crowds spilled onto surrounding roads — characterising the event as a 'mega rally' rather than a partisan gathering.
Dalit Rights and Reservation at the Core
Prasad underscored that the rally carried a specific political message around protecting Dalit voting rights and the constitutional guarantee of reservation — invoking the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in his remarks.
"The rally was for the Dalits for whose voting rights Baba Saheb Ambedkar fought. The rally was to fight for protecting reservation. If the BJP thinks that there was no heavy crowd, then why is the BJP concerned?" he said.
This comes amid an intensifying war of words between the ruling BJP and the INDIA alliance ahead of what both sides are framing as a decisive electoral contest. The question of who will lead the Opposition ticket — Gandhi, Yadav, or a consensus figure yet to be named — remains unresolved and is likely to be a central flashpoint within the bloc in the months ahead.
Point of View
Even before a single vote has been cast. Naming two potential PMs from different parties — Gandhi and Yadav — without a consensus figure is as much a sign of internal jostling as it is a show of strength. The Ramlila Maidan rally framing around Dalit rights and reservation is a deliberate electoral pitch to a constituency both the Congress and the SP are competing for. If the BJP's counter-narrative of a 'mock parliament' is rattling the Opposition, the lack of a single, named PM face gives that critique continued traction.
NationPress
2 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did SP MP Awadhesh Prasad name as potential Prime Ministers from the INDIA bloc?
Prasad named Congress leader and Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav as possible Prime Ministers. He said the final decision would be taken by the INDIA bloc after winning the election.
What prompted Awadhesh Prasad's statement on 2 November?
Prasad was responding to Union Minister Pralhad Joshi 's remark that the Opposition would hold 'mock Parliament' sessions for the next 30 years and that Rahul Gandhi would remain a 'mock Prime Minister.' Prasad argued that political change was inevitable.
What was the Ramlila Maidan rally about?
The INDIA bloc held a rally at Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi on 1 November . Prasad described it as a historic gathering focused on protecting Dalit voting rights and the constitutional guarantee of reservation, and said the ground was completely packed with crowds spilling onto nearby roads.
Is there a split within the INDIA bloc?
Prasad denied any divisions, saying there was 'unity and harmony' among the bloc's constituents and that the BJP's criticism of internal rifts was unfounded. He said the shared purpose of the alliance kept its members together.
When will the INDIA bloc announce its Prime Minister candidate?
According to Prasad, the bloc has not set a pre-election timeline for naming a PM face. He said the final decision will be taken by the INDIA bloc collectively after winning the election.
