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Taking into account OP Rajbhar’s controversies, will his alliance continue with BJP in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections?
Mahakumbh Mela 2025: In conversation with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath talks about state elections.
Om Prakash Rajbhar, the president of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, often makes his allies uneasy with controversial statements. He has been with Mayawati’s BSP, Akhilesh Yadav’s SP and with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and during every tie-up, there have been tensions. This time, he’s a cabinet minister in the Yogi Adityanath government. But taking into account his controversies, will his alliance continue with BJP in the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections?
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath responded to the query during an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi at the Maha Kumbh 2025 in Prayagraj.
Several ministers have been flocking to Prayagraj to take a holy dip in Triveni Sangam as a rare celestial alignment, which occurs once in 144 years, has made this year’s Maha Kumbh mela even more special. CM Yogi had also convened a special cabinet meeting in the city, following which the ministers boarded a boat to take part in the holy dip.
OP Rajbhar’s Latest Controversy
During this time, another controversy erupted related to Om Prakash Rajbhar. According to local reports, while returning from the site of holy dip, vehicles were arranged for ministers to travel back. However, Rajbhar reportedly did not get a place to sit in any of the designated vehicles. This infuriated him. He stopped the vehicle by standing in front of it. He alleged that “unimportant people” were sitting inside the vehicles.
Later, a police officer and some other ministers made him sit in another vehicle so that he could reach Triveni Sankul in Arail. The commotion was captured by some people, who shared it on social media.
Yogi Adityanath On Importance Of Allies
On Saturday, when Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief asked Yogi Adityanath how important are his allies for him, the CM said, “All are part of the state cabinet, and hence, all members of the cabinet take decisions together. All of them came here (Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj) as well. So when we were told that a picture of the cabinet at the Maha Kumbh mela will be clicked, we said that the leaders of all our alliance parties will also come forward.”
He further stressed, “Everyone is together. We will stay together in future as well.”
BJP’s allies in UP include Apna Dal (Sonelal), Rashtriya Lok Dal, Nishad Party and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party. Of which, SBSP chief is considered the most controversial one. He had once even said that he is the “second most powerful in the state after CM Yogi”.
For a brief while, Rajbhar had broken his ties with the NDA and allied with the SP. During this time, in 2022, he claimed that the CM had sent ‘goons in black coats’ while he was on his way to Varanasi along with his son.
“Yogi ji wants to get me killed, some were from BJP while some were sent as per the instructions of DM and Police officials. The BJP doesn’t like that we are fighting for the poor, health infrastructure, farmers, education and to save our constitution. I ask the Election Commission to provide security to me and Arvind Rajbhar. My fight will continue even after my death. I have spoken on the teacher recruitment scam and that is what is irking Yogi ji,” Rajbhar had said in 2022.
Why Is Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party Important in 2027 UP Polls
Despite being a motormouth, what makes OP Rajbhar a prominent leader is the community that he represents. Though Rajbhar voters may account for less than two per cent in Uttar Pradesh, in some of the east UP districts, like Mau, Ballia, Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Deoria, Ghazipur and Ambedkarnagar, they have a considerable role to play in elections.
And hence, the BJP is careful about its caste dynamics. Elaborating on UP elections 2027, CM Yogi told Network18, “Our objective is very clear. Heritage, development, welfare schemes for the poor and instilling a sense of security among people are among our top issues. Focusing on 2027 polls, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the NDA will move ahead to achieve all this with the spirit of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’ (together with all, development for all). And we will again form the government in UP with full majority.”
“There’s development and welfare for every village, every poor, every farmer, every youth and every woman. The government is doing its work by giving priority to the interests of all,” he added.
- Location :
Prayagraj, India
