Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar on Wednesday claimed that a “major split” was imminent in the Samajwadi Party (SP) led by Akhilesh Yadav.
Rajbhar’s Allegations
“Forget Maharashtra and Bengal — the entire SP is sitting ready to join the BJP,” Rajbhar posted on his X account. He further claimed that party’s national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav has submitted a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah containing the list of SP members willing to join the BJP. “The letter says that no harm should happen to them and these leaders, the MPs, are ready to join you,” he said, without giving out any specific names.
BJP sources said the party had nothing to do with Rajbhar’s claim and added that he might have spoken out of overenthusiasm.
Smiles and Tacit Understanding
Adding to the intrigue, Rajbhar said he had “noticed the smiles” exchanged between the two leaders (Shah and Ram Gopal), implying a tacit understanding. “When two hearts meet, words may fall silent, but a conversation does take place,” he remarked.
Corruption Allegations
He also sought to link the alleged unease within SP to alleged corruption cases of the past, saying people in Uttar Pradesh were aware of “who masterminded the mining scam and the Gomti riverfront project scam”. “As the noose tightens, the SP is getting anxious,” he said.
SP’s Denial
Ram Gopal Yadav dismissed Rajbhar’s claim. “No one in the country takes him seriously. You should ask Amit Shah whether I submitted any letter,” Yadav told a news channel. “He speaks without knowing what he is saying,” Yadav added, asserting that all was well in the party. “There is no problem, nor will there be. They only spread rumours. The public will curse them,” he said.
Political Context
Rajbhar’s claim came amid the split in Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and murmurs of an imminent split in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), with some of its nine Lok Sabha MPs purportedly inclined to switch towards the ruling Shiv Sena. Rajbhar had made similar unsubstantiated claims in the past too.
Rajbhar’s remarks, though lacking supporting evidence, came at a time when the BJP and the opposition parties are gearing up for the 2027 UP Assembly elections.
Strategic Message
Political observers viewed Rajbhar’s statement as a strategic message aimed at multiple audiences. An analyst said the BJP-led NDA was attempting to reinforce a narrative that opposition parties are “vulnerable” to internal contradictions, despite their improved performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh.
Sources said that by suggesting that senior SP members are under pressure from corruption-related investigations and that defections are imminent, the NDA leadership is trying to create an impression of instability within the opposition camp.
Akhilesh’s Response
In a cryptic post on social media, which was being seen as a response to Rajbhar’s claims, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav said those making predictions should also predict if the BJP was offering them 75 seats, 50 or mere assurance. “He (Rajbhar) has collected advance payments from aspiring MLA candidates after spreading rumours that BJP will give them 30 seats. People who have given advance payments are now searching for him,” Akhilesh said in a post on X.
