A war of words between the Congress and Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh came into focus once again after a heated argument broke out between Congress MP Imran Masood and SP MLA Ashu Malik during a DISHA meeting in Saharanpur. The two leaders disagreed over the details of drain construction work, with the discussion soon turning into a sharp verbal exchange.
The incident took place during a meeting held to review development works in the district. District officials, ministers and elected representatives were present, including SP MP Iqra Hasan. Masood and Malik were seated next to each other when the disagreement began. A video of the argument later surfaced on social media, bringing the differences between the two leaders into the public spotlight.
Dispute begins over drain construction
The meeting was reviewing various development projects, with officials being questioned about the progress of drain construction. After receiving a response from officials, Masood asked that further questions be put to Ashu Malik.
Malik objected to this and said that the information provided by the officials should first be verified. This led to a disagreement between the two leaders.
🚨 SP-Congress fight
— News Algebra (@NewsAlgebraIND) August 19, 2026
SP MLA: "Hey you… We haven’t come here to eat pakoras"
Imran Masood: "Who’s feeding you pakoras here?" 😂 pic.twitter.com/USLOorwsXj
Masood reportedly said that questions over which there was satisfaction could be left aside, while issues that were still unclear could be discussed further. Malik, however, continued to question the information presented during the meeting.
The exchange soon became heated, with both leaders seen arguing in front of other participants.
‘Chai-pakodi khane thodi aaye hain?’
At one point during the argument, Malik told Masood, “Chai-pakodi khane thodi aaye hain?” The remark further added to the tension in the meeting.
Masood responded by asking Malik to put forward his views according to the rules of the meeting. The two continued to argue for some time before the matter was eventually brought under control.
Fresh questions over Congress-SP ties in UP
The public argument has also drawn attention to the relationship between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. The two parties have worked together as part of the INDIA bloc, but differences have surfaced on several issues, particularly over the future of their alliance and seat-sharing arrangements ahead of the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
The latest disagreement is particularly significant in western Uttar Pradesh, where both Congress and SP have political interests. Imran Masood has also reportedly been pushing for greater consideration for Congress in several constituencies, while the Samajwadi Party remains the stronger alliance partner in the state.
The differences between Masood and Malik are also reportedly not new, with disagreements between the two having surfaced over the past few months. However, their public clash during an official meeting has given the issue fresh visibility.
