Lucknow: A day after claiming that the Samajwadi Party (SP) was heading for a major split, Uttar Pradesh minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Thursday doubled down on his assertion. He stated that a group of disgruntled SP MPs was preparing to break away from Akhilesh Yadav's party under the leadership of a party MP from Ballia.
Claiming that many people are asking him about the 'imminent split' in the SP, Rajbhar posted on X, "Listen carefully. The group of rebel MPs in the SP will be led by a son of Uttar Pradesh's 'rebel land', Ballia." Without naming any MP, Rajbhar claimed that the move gained momentum following an incident at the SP headquarters during a Brahmin conference. He said that members of the Brahmin community were "insulted" at the event, which deeply hurt the Ballia leader he was referring to.
The Ballia reference has sparked political speculation, though Rajbhar stopped short of identifying the leader. Ballia is represented by SP's Brahmin MP Sanatan Pandey in the Lok Sabha. Pandey said he was extremely pained by such allegations levelled by the minister. "I was, am, and will be the worker of Samajwadi Party. I will not be intimidated by any such tactic," he said. Pandey said that he recently called a meeting of Brahmins in which Akhilesh was not invited. "It was only meant to discuss the problems of the Brahmin community. This has been wrongly interpreted by Rajbhar," he added, stating that the SP was sailing strongly and would form the next government in Uttar Pradesh.
Rajbhar, however, maintained that the plan was already in place. "Yesterday's incident acted like fuel to the fire. The split will happen," Rajbhar said while referring to his Wednesday post in which he claimed that SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav submitted a list of rebel SP MPs, who are willing to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), to Home Minister Amit Shah. Akhilesh Yadav dismissed Rajbhar's claim and even questioned his credibility.
The SBSP chief said his remarks have triggered a strong reaction from the "entire Saifai family". "Instead of engaging in politics through Twitter and press conferences, Akhilesh should start a campaign to save his MPs and personally visit unhappy and disappointed MPs," Rajbhar said.
Rajbhar's remarks come amid an escalating war of words between the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members and the Samajwadi Party. The SP has so far dismissed claims of an internal rebellion. There has been no indication from any party MP of plans to leave the organisation either.
