2024 polls: Om Prakash Rajbhar, ex-SP ally, joins BJP-led NDA
Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) Chief and former ally of Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party (SP), Om Prakash Rajbhar, officially returned to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This significant development comes just days after Rajbhar met BJP leader and Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on Friday, said reports.
Why does this story matter?
Rajbhar's return is a significant boost for the BJP in UP ahead of the 2024 general elections. Notably, he enjoys significant influence, especially among his Rajbhar community, which has a sizeable population in eastern UP. Furthermore, he might also attend Tuesday's NDA meeting in Deli in what is being viewed as a power show by the ruling alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
What Rajbhar said about his NDA return
Announcing his move to return to the NDA fold ahead of next year's general election, Rajbhar told ANI, "We met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 14 and discussed various issues and decided to fight the 2024 elections together." "I want to thank [Prime Minister] Narendra Modi, HM Amit Shah, (Uttar Pradesh) CM Yogi Adityanath for taking us along," the SBSP leader added.
BJP, SBSP will fight together: Rajbhar
Furthermore, the SBSP chief also took to Twitter and expressed his delight over his comeback to the NDA. "BJP and Subhaspa (SBSP) have come together," he wrote in Hindi. "The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party will fight together for the protection of social justice, country, security, good governance, deprived, oppressed, backward, Dalits, women, farmers, youth, every weak class," Rajbhar added.
Twitter post by Rajbhar
Shah welcomes Rajbhar into 'NDA family'
On Rajbhar's return to the NDA fold, Shah said, "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," stated the top BJP leader in a tweet.
Home minister's Twitter post on Rajbhar
SBSP won 6 seats in 2022 UP Assembly polls
Notably, the Rajbhar-led SBSP contested the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls in alliance with the SP and secured six seats. The SBSP is primarily based in the Rajbhar community in eastern UP and has also called for the community's inclusion in the list of Scheduled Tribes (STs) frequently. Furthermore, the party also favors the setting up of reservation quotas on a socio-economic basis.
BJP's recent efforts to boost its ranks in UP
Notably, the saffron brigade's move to woo Rajbhar back highlights the party's micro efforts to boost further its presence across Urrar Pradesh, which has 80 MP seats, ahead of LS polls. On the other hand, Purvanchal OBC leader Dara Singh Chauhan's decision to resign as an SP MLA on Saturday is also being viewed as part of the BJP's exercise to bolster its ranks.
