Om Prakash Rajbhar, the chief of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), announced his re-entry into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This move is expected to bolster the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rajbhar’s return to the ruling alliance came moments after Shah tweeted a photo of their meeting, expressing his welcome to the OBC leader and stating that his inclusion would strengthen the NDA in Uttar Pradesh.
In a tweet in Hindi, Rajbhar declared, “The BJP and the SBSP have joined hands. Both parties will collaborate to fight for social justice, national security, good governance, the upliftment of the marginalized, exploited, farmers, poor, Dalits, youth, and women, and to empower every underprivileged section of society.”
Rajbhar’s decision to align with the NDA highlights the BJP’s active efforts to form alliances ahead of the 2024 general elections. This comes in the wake of recent events, such as a faction of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) lawmakers led by Ajit Pawar joining the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra. It is evident that the party, which has gained significant political dominance over the past decade, is strategically working towards its objectives.
During the meeting with Shah, Rajbhar was accompanied by his son Arvind Rajbhar. This re-entry into the NDA is expected to strengthen the alliance in eastern Uttar Pradesh, known as “Poorvanchal,” where the SBSP chief wields influence.
Rajbhar was previously an ally of the BJP and held a ministerial position in the state government. However, he had separated from the party prior to the 2022 assembly polls and formed an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP).
This development occurred just two days before the scheduled meeting of NDA partners in New Delhi on July 18, which will also be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rajbhar confirmed receiving an invitation from BJP chief JP Nadda for the meeting, making SBSP the third BJP ally from Uttar Pradesh, a politically significant state that contributes 80 lawmakers to the Lok Sabha. The BJP has already formed alliances with two other OBC parties from eastern Uttar Pradesh, namely the Apna Dal (Sonelal) and the Nishad Party.
Rajbhar expressed his views at a press conference, stating, “Now, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh have become a one-sided contest as the opposition hardly stands a chance. In the name of opposition unity, Akhilesh Yadavji (Samajwadi Party chief) and Mayawatiji (Bahujan Samaj Party chief) were engaged in a battle of one-upmanship, but Narendra Modi has proven to be the strongest among them all.”
In response to the development, the Samajwadi Party stated that it would not affect the proposed unity among opposition parties, which is to be discussed in a crucial second meeting held in Bengaluru on Monday and Tuesday.
Political analysts believe that Union Minister Amit Shah is making efforts to ensure that the BJP continues to secure a substantial number of seats from Uttar Pradesh, countering the call from SP chief Akhilesh Yadav to defeat the NDA through a “PDA” alliance (referring to an alliance of the backward, Dalit, and minority communities).
Kalyan Chandra
Kalyan chandra is a political strategist, media and communication consultant with the expertise in public relations, marketing, political research, election campaign management, psephology and digital analytics. He focuses on strategic political consulting, offering services that include competitive research, public opinion collection, and digital media management. Kalyan has significantly contributed to successful campaigns across India with his meticulous approach and deep understanding of the political landscape.
