Rajbhar ties up with Samajwadi Party instead of BJP

Vibha Sharma
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, October 20

The alignment of political forces against the ruling BJP appears to be falling in place with a former minister in the Yogi Adityanath government on Wednesday committing to the Samajwadi Party.

In a major political development today, Samajwadi Party supremo Akhilesh Yadav and Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party chief Om Prakash Rajbhar declared that they are together in the fight for Dalits, backwards and other weaker sections of the society.

“The Samajwadi Party and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party will fight together the battle of the deprived, oppressed, backwards, Dalits, women, farmers, youths and other weaker sections of the society,” the SP tweeted from its official handle adding “Sapa-Subhspa (SP-SBPS) saath-saath, UP main bhajpa (BJP) saaf”.  

“The SP and the SBSP are together, the BJP is clearly out,” it said along with a photograph of the meeting between Yadav and Rajbhar.

Interestingly though, there was no mention of whether the two will also contest the upcoming elections in a coalition or of a pre-poll understanding.

Observers, however, said the intention and wordings of the tweet was clear.

“Sapa-Subhspa (SP-SBPS) saath-saath, UP main bhajpa (BJP) saaf. Coming barely months before the elections, it is a significant statement,” they said

Rajbhar, who contested the last Assembly elections with the BJP, last week hinted he might again form an alliance with the saffron party for the upcoming elections. His meeting with state BJP president Swatantra Dev Singh had also triggered speculation that he might go with the BJP again.

Rajbhar also called today’s meeting with Akhilesh Yadav a “courtesy call”.

“This time BJP is out. SP and SBSP have come together. The BJP government, which ditched Dalits, backwards, minorities and other sections, has just a few days left,” Rajbhar tweeted.

Having four MLAs in the present house, his party holds influence in over a dozen districts in the Poorvanchal region.

In 2017, the BJP contested in alliance with the SBSP. Rajbhar was also made a minister in the Adityanath government but he resigned before the 2019 polls.

Rajbhar is also a part of “Bhagidari Morcha”, a “participatory political front”, with Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and some other outfits. 

Also, though the SP and the SBSP announced “they are together”, none of their leaders clearly said if they will contest together. Samajwadi Party leaders said “Akhilesh Yadav will decide seat-sharing, if any. Things will become clear soon”.

Rajbhar-led Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha has also announced a rally in Mau later this month.

So far, the BJP is contesting with Sanjay Nishad-led Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad party), which represents communities like fishermen and boatmen whose traditional occupations are centred on rivers, and the Apna Dal, whose leader Anupriya Patel is also a minister of state in the Narendra Modi council in the Centre.