Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) President Om Prakash Rajbhar has reportedly sought five Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and four Lok Sabha seats in Bihar from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday in Delhi, Rajbhar discussed the possibility of seat-sharing between the SBSP and the BJP. The requested Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh include Ghazipur, Ballia, Mau, Salempur, and Chandauli, while in Bihar, the seats sought are Nawada, Valmiki Nagar, Siwan, and Karakat.
Arun Rajbhar, son of Om Prakash Rajbhar and chief spokesperson for SBSP, stated that similar discussions had taken place with BJP President JP Nadda on December 29. During these meetings, Om Prakash Rajbhar sought assurances from the BJP leaders that decisions regarding seat-sharing and other political roles would be made at an appropriate time. The SBSP president reportedly received assurances from both Amit Shah and JP Nadda that he would be appointed as a minister in the expanded Uttar Pradesh cabinet, with the cabinet expansion anticipated to occur after January 16.
The SBSP had previously contested the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections in 2022 in alliance with the Samajwadi Party, securing victory in six seats. However, the party later severed its alliance with the Samajwadi Party and joined the BJP-led NDA. Om Prakash Rajbhar had served as the Backward Class Welfare Minister in the NDA government formed in Uttar Pradesh in 2017. However, he separated from the government just before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, citing differences with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. Currently holding the position of MLA from the Zahoorabad seat in Ghazipur, Rajbhar’s political moves are closely watched in the context of Uttar Pradesh’s dynamic political landscape.
The SBSP’s requests for specific Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar underline the complexities of seat-sharing negotiations within the NDA alliance. While the BJP has not yet provided official statements on the matter, the assurance of a ministerial role for Om Prakash Rajbhar adds another dimension to the evolving political landscape in Uttar Pradesh. The SBSP’s participation in the NDA alliance and potential ministerial roles could influence the electoral dynamics in the upcoming political scenarios in both states.
