Om Prakash Rajbhar with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav
Highlights
- Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is likely to return to BJP fold
- The SBSP, led by ex-state minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, had fought 2017 poll in alliance with BJP
- The SBSP fought the 2022 Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the Samajwadi Party
After the dust-biting debacle in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, the Om Prakash Rajbhar-led Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) is likely to return to the fold of the ruling BJP-led alliance in the state, sources said. The SBSP, led by former state minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, had fought the 2017 election in alliance with the BJP. Om Prakash Rajbhar had even served as a minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led cabinet till 2019, before he was sacked for 'anti-alliance activities'. The SBSP then fought the 2022 Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh in alliance with the Samajwadi Party.
However, refuting all claims, the SBSP leader said, "I am with Akhilesh Yadav and would fight 2024 elections alongside Samajwadi Party. Will go to swearing-in ceremony as leader of Opposition, if invited."
It was being said, after the BJP won a majority in the election and returned to power in Uttar Pradesh, SBSP was likely to return to the National Democratic Alliance. He may even get a ministerial berth, sources added.
To the reports of Om Prakash Rajbhar meeting BJP leaders Amit Shah, Sunil Bansal and Dharmendra Pradhan for about an hour, the SBSP leader said, "Totally baseless. No such meeting took place."
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