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Journalism of Courage
On July 16, the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president, Om Prakash Rajbhar, announced that he was returning to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP. During the 2022 UP Assembly polls, when Rajbhar had allied with the Samajwadi Party (SP) and had campaigned in tandem with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav against the BJP across the state, his party had won six of the 19 seats it contested. Now, the SBSP has gone back to join hands with the BJP – its ally in the 2017 UP polls when it had won four seats of the eight it had contested. Rajbhar speaks to The Indian Express about why he returned to the NDA, next year’s Lok Sabha polls, and what he expects from the NDA alliance in 2024. Excerpts:
* You were with the SP till the 2022 UP Assembly elections. Now you have returned to the BJP-led NDA. Why this switch?
The reasons are clear. One must be with those in power in order to be in a position to give something to the poor, backward castes, and disadvantaged groups. Also, we had tried to bring together the Opposition parties in UP. But Akhilesh ji is allergic to bringing Mayawati ji on board, and it seems the feelings are mutual. The two of them also don’t want any other leader to represent backward communities and Dalits. We have had four SP and BSP governments in the state, and not one Dalit or backward leader was allowed to rise. We have a small party. If these two can’t even accommodate us, we have to go somewhere else.
* Yesterday, Akhilesh at a press conference said you had once called PM Modi and CM Yogi the “biggest liars”. How can you come together after saying such things – videos of which went viral the day you announced your alliance with the BJP?
I had said similar things about Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav too. Then, how did I ally with the SP? Ask him about this. In the name of backwards, they have only worked for Yadavs. They get Muslim votes, but not once have they made a Muslim the deputy chief minister… These two leaders of backwards and Dalits (Akhilesh and Mayawati) are the root cause of all problems in the state. If they care so much about Dalits and backwards, why don’t they come together. They decided to finish my politics. Everyone says that BJP is anti-Muslim. Today, the same BJP is holding Pasmanda programmes that are also attended by the Prime Minister. People on social media are now saying that BJP has left the Hindutva agenda.
* How will you convey to your voters in eastern UP that this time the vote has to go to the BJP?
I held a meeting in Azamgarh today. I felt my workers and leaders feel that people are being too harsh on us. The SP allies with the Congress, and then breaks it off. The BSP allies with the SP, and then breaks it off. No one says anything to them. Only we are targeted over this. When big parties do it, it is considered good. But when a small party does it, it is considered wrong.
* Mafiosi-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s son Abbas is an MLA from your party. You are with the BJP, which has openly spoken about having “zero tolerance” against the mafia. Will you remove him from the party?
He (Abbas) had contested on my party’s symbol, but he was an SP candidate. I was told by the SP to give him a ticket. Akhilesh Yadav recently threatened me that I will be left alone if I say too much. Meaning, he will recall those who had contested on an SBSP ticket but were SP candidates. Whatever is happening against members of the Ansari family are legal proceedings being done by the courts. He (Abbas) is in jail. As and when he comes out, we will see.
* The BJP has some other small parties as allies in UP as well. How many seats are you expecting as an NDA ally in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls?
Whether it is Anupriya Patel (of the Apna Dal-Sonelal), Sanjay Nishad (of the NISHAD Party) or Om Prakash Rajbhar (SBSP), our aim will be to be part of the government. There has been no talk on seats so far. It will be done when the time comes.
