OP Rajbhar, Ex Samajwadi Party Ally Rejoins NDA Alliance

In a jolt to Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, influential among OBC voters in eastern Uttar Pradesh rejoined the BJP-led NDA alliance on Sunday.

Om Prakash Rajbhar announced that the party will fight along with the BJP for "social justice, the country's security, and empowerment of those deprived of good governance, the oppressed, backward classes, Dalits, women, farmers, youth, and all weak sections of society".

"Met rakash Rajbhar in Delhi and decided to join the NDA alliance led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I welcome him to the NDA family," Shah tweeted.

"The arrival of Rajbhar will strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh and the efforts being made by the NDA under the leadership of Modi for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden will get further strength," he added.

In a tweet, Rajbhar said, "The BJP and the SBSP have come together. They will fight together for social justice, national security, good governance, the deprived, exploited, farmers, poor, Dalits, youth and women, and to empower every poor section".

Rajbhar, who enjoys influence especially among his Rajbhar community which is present in sizeable numbers in eastern Uttar Pradesh, is now expected to attend the NDA meeting on July 18 here in what is being seen as a show of strength by the ruling alliance in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Rajbhar's alliance with the Samajwadi Party was considered an important reason for the BJP's relatively average performance in parts of 'poorvanchal' during the 2022 assembly polls. He was a BJP ally earlier as well but had parted ways with the party ahead of the assembly polls.

The BJP's decision to woo him back into the NDA highlights its micro efforts to strengthen its presence all-round the state which sends 80 MPs to Lok Sabha.