Lok Sabha Election 2024: Narad Rai Meets Amit Shah, Hints At Defection In Samajwadi Party

Amidst ongoing polling to elect members of the 18th Lok Sabha, the Opposition's INDIA bloc faced a major setback on Monday as senior Samajwadi Party leader and a prime face in Uttar Pradesh's politics, Narad Rai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to the reports, Narad Rai is likely to switch sides and may divide Akhilesh Yadav's SP. Narad Rai shared a picture of his meeting with Amit Shah on the micro-blogging site X and lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government's social policies.

For the unversed, Narad Rai was close to late SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav.

The pictures shared by Rai also show that Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief and UP Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar was present during the meeting.

Narad Rai's post also called Prime Minister Modi a world leader, who strengthened India's image at the global level, and called Amit Shah the real "Chanakya of Politics".

"Will strengthen their resolve to strengthen the last man in the queue and their commitment towards nationalism. Jai Shree Ram," Rai's post further read.

Reports suggested that everything is not okay between Akhilesh Yadav and Narad Rai as he was not happy with the party chief's attitude at the Ballia rally held last Sunday. Rai represents Bhumihar community in Uttar Pradesh and is active in politics for more than three decades. He was also minister in Akhilesh Yadav's erstwhile state government.

It was also learned that Rai has been in constant touch with Om Prakash Rajbhar and that before meeting BJP top leadership, Rai had a word with his supporters and may switch sides.

During the meet with his supporters, Rai remembered Mulayam Singh Yadav and pledged to remember his 'guru-mantra" till his last breath. "Neta ji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) considered himself as the servant of the leader... He said that if it comes to the respect of your people, don't be swayed by anyone. Neta ji, I will remember your guru-mantra till the last breath and I will always fight for my people," Rai said.