In a significant development for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttar Pradesh, OBC leader Om Prakash Rajbhar has decided to form an alliance with the party and join the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) after a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah. Shah on Sunday tweeted a picture of their meeting and warmly welcomed Om Prakash Rajbhar, leader of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), to the NDA.
This alliance is expected to strengthen the NDA’s position in Uttar Pradesh and further enhance its efforts, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to uplift the impoverished and marginalized sections of society, as stated by a senior BJP leader. In a tweet, Rajbhar expressed that the BJP and SBSP have joined forces to fight for social justice, national security, good governance, and the empowerment of disadvantaged groups such as farmers, the poor, Dalits, youth, and women.
Rajbhar, known for his influence among the Rajbhar community in eastern Uttar Pradesh, which holds a significant population, is now slated to attend the NDA meeting on July 18. This gathering is being viewed as a display of strength by the ruling alliance in preparation for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Rajbhar’s previous alliance with the Samajwadi Party was considered a contributing factor to the BJP’s relatively average performance in certain areas of “poorvanchal” during the 2022 assembly polls. Although he was previously an ally of the BJP, Rajbhar had parted ways with the party before the assembly elections.
The BJP’s efforts to bring Rajbhar back into the NDA reflect their strategic focus on strengthening their presence across the state, which holds significance as it contributes 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Additionally, the recent resignation of another OBC leader from “Poorvanchal,” Dara Singh Chauhan, as a Samajwadi Party MLA is seen as part of the BJP’s larger initiative to bolster their ranks. Chauhan, who was previously associated with the BJP, had joined the Samajwadi Party before the 2022 assembly polls.
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