Boost For BJP In Uttar Pradesh: Former Ally OP Rajbhar Rejoins NDA, Breaks Away From Akhilesh Yadav

Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Rajbhar today said that he will attend the NDA meeting on July 18.

Former Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar today rejoined the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), giving a boost to the alliance ahead of crucial 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Rajbhar today said that he will attend the NDA meeting on July 18. Rajbhar said that coming together of the BJP and the SBSP will create a big force in the state that will work for the upliftment of weaker sections.

Talking to media, Rajbhar said, "The SBSP and the BJP have decided to fight the election unitedly. We had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 14 and had a detailed discussion on several topics including the welfare of poor and underprivileged people of the society....He agreed with our concerns. Coming together of the two parties will create a big force in the state and will help in taking forward the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the lives of poor and weak sections should be improved."

When asked about his earlier statement that he would support the opposition alliance, Rajbhar asked how long he is expected to wait for confirmation from the opposition parties. "How long shall I wait? I talked to them many times but I did not get any response from their side," he said. Rajbhar further said, "We will attend the NDA meeting in Delhi on 18th July. The post of minister is not important to me. Now there is no competition in Uttar Pradesh," said Rajbhar.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah welcomed him to the NDA fold. "Met Shri Om Prakash Rajbhar ji in Delhi and he decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji. I welcome him to the NDA family. The arrival of Rajbhar ji will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi ji for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will get further strength," said Shah.

श्री @oprajbhar जी से दिल्ली में भेंट हुई और उन्होंने प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी के नेतृत्व वाले NDA गठबंधन में आने का निर्णय लिया। मैं उनका NDA परिवार में स्वागत करता हूँ।

राजभर जी के आने से उत्तर प्रदेश में एनडीए को मजबूती मिलेगी और मोदी जी के नेतृत्व में एनडीए द्वारा… pic.twitter.com/uLnbgJedbF

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) July 16, 2023

Rajbhar, a former minister (2017-2019) in the Uttar Pradesh BJP government, was sacked for "anti-alliance activities". He then contested the 2022 Assembly election in alliance with the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. That alliance also came to an end in July last year. Before joining the SP alliance, Rajbhar had joined hands with AIMIM led by Asaduddin Owaisi.

Given the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the alliance is important for the BJP specially given the SBSP's presence in the Poorvanchal region.